LeBron leads Heat over 76ers for 17th win in a row

Miami Heat LeBron James goes to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers Evan Turner,left,and Spencer Hawes,right, during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball gane at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Friday, March 8, 2013. AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, David Santiago

MIAMI — LeBron James scored 25 points and the Miami Heat’s club-record win streak reached 17 games, matching the longest in the NBA this season, with a 102-93 home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Dwyane Wade scored 22 points while Chris Bosh contributed 16 and Ray Allen added 12 for the defending NBA champion Heat, who improved the best record in the Eastern Conference to 46-14 while dropping the 76ers to 23-38.

The Heat pulled even with an early season run by the Los Angeles Clippers for the season’s longest win streak and can seize the mark for themselves alone with a home victory Sunday against Indiana.

James, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, also contributed 10 rebounds and five assists for the Heat.

Thaddeus Young scored 25 points in a losing cause as Philadelphia lost for the fourth game in a row.

The 76ers led 51-47 at half-time but Miami battled back in the third quarter and led 76-75 entering the final period.

James sparked a 17-6 Heat run to open the fourth quarter and seal the triumph. He and Wade each made two layups in the deciding spurt.

Miami last lost on February 1 at Indiana, and the Heat last dropped a home game on January 4 against Chicago.