National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Miami 98, Cleveland 95
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Officials: #30 John Goble, #13 Monty McCutchen, #66 Haywoode Workman
Attendance: 20562
Heat 98, Cavaliers 95: LeBron James collected 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and visiting Miami exploded in the second half to down Cleveland and push its winning streak to 24 games.

Mario Chalmers added 17 points and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh scored 11 apiece for the Heat, who trailed by as many as 27 points early in the third quarter before turning it on and dominating the rest of the way to match the largest comeback in the NBA this season. Miami's streak trails only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 straight on their way to a championship.

Wayne Ellington scored 20 points but missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left as Cleveland dropped its fourth straight game. The Cavaliers jumped out on the Heat despite being without three of their best players in Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Anderson Varejao (leg) and Dion Waiters (knee).

Cleveland dominated the glass and held Miami to 37.5 percent from the field in the first half to take a 55-34 lead into the locker room. That advantage swelled to 67-40 when Tyler Zeller completed a three-point play with 7:43 left in the third.

The Heat turned it around from there, getting three 3-pointers from Shane Battier during a 28-10 burst that ended the third and cut it to 77-68. James scored 12 points and hit three 3-pointers, including the go-ahead basket, during a 27-11 spurt to begin the final period before the Cavaliers drew back within a point in the final minute.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The triple-double was the fourth of the season for James, who improved to 9-1 against his former team, including 2-0 during the winning streak. … The Heat will return home for two straight against sub-.500 teams Detroit and Charlotte before taking off on a four-game road trip that includes potential roadblocks in Chicago and San Antonio. … Tristan Thompson scored 18 points, Zeller had 12 and 11 rebounds and Shaun Livingston added 14 points for the Cavaliers.
Top Game Performances
 
Miami   Cleveland
LeBron James 25 Scoring Wayne Ellington 20
LeBron James 10 Assists Shaun Livingston 6
LeBron James 12 Rebounds Tyler Zeller 11
LeBron James 6 Free Throws Made Tyler Zeller 4
Ray Allen 5 Steals Tristan Thompson 3
Chris Bosh 2 Blocks Marreese Speights 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Miami 98 44.4 12-29 22-30 21 34 6 9 13
Cleveland 95 45.7 7-21 14-17 20 42 2 8 17
Upcoming Games
  • Cleveland will play their next game on the road against Houston. The Cavaliers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Miami will play their next game at home against Detroit. The Heat have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.