The AssociatedPress
MIAMI — LeBron James had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the Miami Heat never trailed on the way to beating the Washington Wizards 102-72 on Saturday night.
Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade each scored 13 for Miami, which outscored Washington 29-10 in the third quarter to build a 33-point lead. James had 16 points alone in the third, ensuring he would finish with at least 20 points for the 26th straight regular-season game.
Chris Bosh added 12 points for the Heat, who turned 21 turnovers into 30 points.
Bradley Beal scored 19 points and Cartier Martin added 18 for the Wizards, who beat the Heat 105-101 in Washington on Dec. 4.
This one went much differently: By halftime, Miami already had 50 points. Through three quarters, Washington still only had 46.
It was an emotional day in Miami, as it has been across the U.S. since the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Friday. Before tipoff on Saturday, Miami held a moment of silence.
Once the game started, Miami was all business.
Miami held Washington to 29 per cent from the field in the opening quarter, ran out to a quick 16-point lead and never yielded control. Jordan Crawford made a three-pointer for the Wizards early in the second to cut the Miami lead to 28-22, but after that, it was all Heat.
N.Y. KNICKS 103 CLEVELAND 102
n NEW YORK — Raymond Felton scored 25 points, Tyson Chandler had 23, and the New York Knicks overcame Kyrie Irving’s career-high 41 points and the absence of Carmelo Anthony to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-102 on Saturday night.
The Knicks won their fourth straight when Anderson Varejao missed the second of two free throws with one second left. They improved the NBA’s only unbeaten home record to 10-0.
Anthony, the NBA’s No. 2 scorer, missed the game after spraining his left ankle Thursday.
