Cleveland Cavaliers’ Wayne Ellington (21) fouls Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in Cleveland. AP/Tony Dejak
CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 25 points as the Miami Heat overcame a 27-point deficit to win their 24th straight game, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-95 on Wednesday and extending the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.
Miami is within nine games of matching the record of 33 consecutive wins held by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
James and his teammates have insisted the record isn’t one of their goals, and for more than 30 minutes the defending champions seemed disinterested and on the verge of losing for the first time since Feb. 1. Miami trailed 67-40 with 7:44 left in the third quarter.
But behind the irrepressible James, who added 12 rebounds and 10 assists, the Heat inched closer to history by matching the biggest comeback in the NBA this season.