James, Bosh help Heat escape Trail Blazers threat

Miami Heat forward LeBron James (centre) attempts to get past Portland Trail Blazers’ Robin Lopez (left) and Mo Williams during the second half of thier NBA match at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Picture: USA TODAY Sports

DPA/Los Angeles The suddenly slumping Miami Heat has been mired in a March rut but LeBron James and Chris Bosh rescued the two-time defending NBA Champs from another night of exasperation. James dropped in 32 points, including the go-ahead layup with 11.7 seconds remaining, Bosh made the game-saving block on Damian Lillard’s layup, and the Heat held off the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 93-91 on Monday night. “We had a sense of urgency from the start and we played well,” said James after the Heat’s fifth victory in the last 12 games. “I’m always happy when I can come through for my team. And CB was right on time with a great block and we were able to get the win.” Bosh had 15 points with eight rebounds while Chris Andersen added 13 points and 11 boards, as the Heat rebounded from Saturday’s 105-95 loss to lowly New Orleans. “It started when we lost to New Orleans,” Andersen said. “We decided enough was enough.” Playing without All-Star guard Dwyane Wade (sore ankle), Miami led 84-72 with 5 minutes 25 seconds left but couldn’t hold it. Instead, Portland went on a 19-7 run capped by a pair of Mo Williams’ free throws to knot the contest at 91-apiece with 30.9 ticks remaining. But James drove the left side past seven-footer Robin Lopez for the layup that proved to be the difference maker. The Trail Blazers had two timeouts left but chose to push the ball up court in the hands of Lillard. Unable to shake free from Norris Cole for a potential game-winning 3-pointer, the speedy All-Star guard drove the left side and put up a scoop layup. But Bosh swatted the ball away just before the final buzzer and let out a primal scream of approval as the Heat escaped with the win. “We figured he was kind of going to try to go for the win because he’s had a couple of game-winners from three but Norris did a good job of running him off,” Bosh said. “So as soon as he picked the ball up I was able to pick up the flight of it and get there.” “I thought I had a pretty good look at it but Chris made a great play,” Lillard said. “He met it at the top.” Lillard netted 19 points, Williams had 17 for the Trail Blazers, who again without All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge (back), shot a frosty 38 per cent, including 11-of-39 from behind the arc. San Antonio Spurs 113, Philadelphia 76ers 91 Austin Daye hit six triples en route to 22 points, Tim Duncan added 19, and the league-best Spurs (54-16) rolled to their season-high 14th straight win while extending the visiting Sixers’ franchise record to 25 consecutive losses. A loss Thursday at Houston and sorrowful Philadelphia will match the NBA record for consecutive defeats set by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010-11. Chicago Bulls 89, Indiana Pacers 77 Taj Gibson led five players in double figures with 23 points, Kirk Hinrich had 19, and the Bulls prevented the visiting Pacers from clinching the Central Division title. Oklahoma City Thunder 117, Denver Nuggets 96 Kevin Durant fired in 27 points, Caron Butler added 23, and the Thunder - minus All-Star guard Russell Westbrook (knee sprain) - rocked the visiting Nuggets for their fourth straight win. LA Clippers 106, Milwaukee Bucks 98Blake Griffin had 27 points with 14 rebounds, and the host Clippers posted back-to-back 50-win seasons after beating the league-worst Bucks for their 13th victory in the last 14 games Rockets 100, Charlotte Bobcats 89 James Harden dropped in 14 of his 31 points in the pivotal third quarter, and the visiting Rockets won their fourth in a row after beating the Bobcats, who got 20 points and 11 boards from Al Jefferson. Phoenix Suns 102, Atlanta Hawks 95 Eric Bledsoe scored 20 points, Slovenia’s Goran Dragic had 19 and the visiting Suns clipped the Hawks for their fourth straight win to draw even with idle Dallas for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff chase. Memphis Grizzlies 109, Minnesota Timberwolves 92 Mike Conley scored 23 points, Spaniard Marc Gasol had 14 with 12 rebounds, and the host Grizzlies routed the T-Wolves. New Orleans Pelicans 109, Brooklyn Nets 104 (OT) Tyreke Evans scored a season-high 33 points, Anthony Morrow nailed a pair of timely 3-pointers in overtime, and the Pelicans rallied from 22 down in the third quarter to stop the visiting Nets’ four-game success. Detroit Pistons 114, Utah Jazz 94 Andre Drummond collected 19 points and 14 rebounds, Greg Monroe had 18 points with 11 boards, and the Pistons ended a 14-game road slide after drumming the Jazz despite Gordon Hayward’s 32 points.