Charlotte, North Carolina: LeBron James delivered a devastating second-half performance as the red-hot Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Bobcats 96-82 on Monday.
James scored 26 of his game-high 38 points in the second half to help the Heat (27-9) record their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games.
Dwyane Wade tallied 31 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who broke the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Charlotte 31-16.
James was at his most dominant in the third, scoring 13 straight points during one stretch to bury the Bobcats. He also added nine rebounds and five assists on the night.
"The way we're winning — we're defending and everyone is involved in our offense," James told reporters. "That's good basketball."
Stephen Jackson scored a team-high 22 points for the ailing Bobcats (11-21).
Injured
Charlotte was without second leading scorer Gerald Wallace, sidelined with ankle injury, along with big men Nazr Mohammad (knee) and DeSagana Diop, who was ruled out for the season on Monday with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
The Bobcats held a seven-point lead in the second quarter before Miami took control. Charlotte interim coach Paul Silas dropped to 2-2 since taking over from Larry Brown, who was fired on December 22 after a 9-19 start to the season.
Miami earned their 11th successive road win for the first time since 1998.
RESULTS
- ORLANDO 110 Golden State 90
- Miami 96 CHARLOTTE 82
- BOSTON 96 Minnesota 93
- N. ORLEANS 84 P'delphia 77
- DENVER 113 Houston 106
- UTAH 102 Detroit 97
(home team in CAPS)
