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Dwyane Wade scored 33 points and LeBron James had a triple-double Saturday night as the searing Miami Heat won their 10th straight game, a 114-90 demolition of the host Philadelphia 76ers. |
James collected 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 35th career triple-double for Miami, which won all four games on its trip by a combined 66 points. The Heat (39-14) have not lost since February 1 and have won seven straight games by double digits.
“That team is big-time good,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “They’re a great, great team. I don’t see any weaknesses.”
For most of the season, it has been James leading the Heat and Wade in a strong supporting role. Against the 76ers, however, Wade took charge by making 14-of-18 shots - most of them mid-range jumpers - for his third 30-point game during the winning streak.
James did not reach 20 points for just the second time this season. But he still dominated the 76ers with his all-around game and registered his third triple-double of the season.
“I don’t need to score for us to win,” James said. “Every time I drove, I had two or three guys coming at me and I was looking to move the ball.”
The Heat did not take the lead for good until the second quarter, when Wade sank consecutive jumpers for a 37-33 advantage. Shane Battier followed with two three-pointers, Chris Bosh scored five straight points and Ray Allen drilled a pair of three-pointers for a 56-47 lead at halftime.
“We feel that when we get defensive stops and limit teams to one shot, we have the best offence and the best shooters in the league,” said Bosh, who scored 13 points.
James had nine points and five assists in the third quarter, when Miami extended its lead to 22 points.
After a brief flurry by Philadelphia, Wade scored 10 points in the first six minutes of the final period to rebuild the margin to 101-78.
While the Heat are pulling away in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers (22-31) are fading away. They have lost four in a row and are 3 ½ games out of the final playoff spot as they await the return of injured star centre Andrew Bynum, who practiced Friday for the first time this season. “We all thought Bynum would be a huge piece for them,” James said.
Mario Chalmers scored 14 points and Allen and Norris Cole added 12 apiece for the Heat, who shot a blistering 58 percent (45-of-77) from the field, committed just seven turnovers and held an 18-0 advantage in fast-break points.
Jrue Holiday scored 21 points and Nick Young added 19 for the Sixers, who shot 45 percent (35-of-78) and were outrebounded, 37-32.
