James leads Heat to win over Jazz
Miami's LeBron James scores 30 despite twisting ankle in third quarter.
IN THE THIRD quarter, Le-Bron James lost his headband and turned his left ankle. Neither slowed him for long.
James finished with 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists despite getting an extended break after tweaking the ankle, Dwyane Wade added 27 points and the Miami Heat beat visiting Utah, 117-94, last night.
It was the best shooting night in team history, Miami connecting on 63.4 percent of its shots. James led the way, making 13 of 17 attempts.
"I'm excited I could go back out there, make some plays and finish the game off," James said. "But I know in the morning, when I wake up, it's going to be pretty sore."
Chris Bosh scored 20 points for the Heat, who moved within two games of Indiana for the East lead. Miami hosts the Pacers tomorrow.
Alec Burks scored a career-high 31 points for Utah, which got 17 from Derrick Favors.
"We didn't match their intensity in the second half," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "Give them credit. They know what it takes to get themselves out of holes."
It was Miami's 17th straight victory over a Western Conference opponent, the second-longest regular-season streak by an Eastern Conference team in NBA history. Boston won 20 straight over the West during a 9-month span of 1973.
In other games
* At Boston, Jared Sullinger had 24 points and 11 rebounds, hitting a tie-breaking three-pointer with 2:22 left and the Celtics beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 101-97.
Kevin Love had 27 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota.
* At Atlanta, Kyle Korver sank three three-pointers in the Hawks' dominant third quarter, Al Horford scored 19 points and Atlanta beat cold-shooting Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-100. Nick Young led the Lakers with 23 points. Bryant made only four of 14 shots for eight points.
* At Indianapolis, Josh Smith had 30 points as the Detroit Pistons handed Indiana its first home loss of the season, defeating the Pacers, 101-96.
* At New York, Bradley Beal's driving layup with 6 seconds remaining lifted the Washington Wizards to a 102-101 win over the Knicks. Martell Webster had 30 points for the Wizards.
* At Chicago, Arron Afflalo scored 23 points to lead the Orlando Magic to a 83-82 victory over the Bulls. Luol Deng had 26 points and eight rebounds for Chicago, which has dropped five of six.
* At Los Angeles, Blake Griffin scored 27 points and Chris Paul added 23 as the Clippers downed the San Antonio Spurs, 115-92.
Noteworthy
* Michael Jordan's 56,000-square foot home in suburban Chicago has failed to sell at auction after the bidding fell short. Jordan spokeswoman Estee Portnoy says nobody offered the reserve price of $13 million for the 7-acre estate in Highland Park, north of Chicago. Portnoy says Concierge Auctions publicized the auction well, but that market conditions aren't ideal. She says options for the property will be evaluated next year.
The former Chicago Bulls superstar's home originally was listed at $29 million in early 2012.
It has nine bedrooms, 15 full bathrooms, a pool pavilion and a regulation-size indoor basketball court. It also features what's described as a "gentleman's retreat," complete with a library, wet bar and the original doors from the Playboy Mansion in Chicago.