NEW ORLEANS: Two nights after having their streak snapped, LeBron James and the Miami Heat looked ready to start a new run.
James scored 36 points, hitting six consecutive 3-pointers in less than six minutes during the first half, and the Miami Heat rebounded from their first loss in nearly two months to beat the New Orleans Hornets 108-89 last night.
The Heat, whose 27-game winning streak ended in Chicago on Wednesday, clinched the top seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. James kept shooting 3-pointers after making his first one with 1:55 left in the first quarter, and he did not miss until he already had set a season high with his sixth.
‘’It was one of those nights, so I just kept it going,’’ James said. ‘’We had a three-on-one break and Mike passed to me, and I stopped for a 3. I hadn’t done that probably since high school or the early years with Cleveland. I felt good. Just tried to keep the Heat wave going.’’
James finished with seven 3s - one shy of his career high - as the crowd at the New Orleans Arena cheered louder and louder after giving him a mixed reception before the game.
Dwyane Wade added 17 points and seven assists for the Heat. Norris Cole scored 12 points and Chris Bosh 10.
But James was the show after drawing fire for complaining about what he thought were a couple of unnecessarily hard fouls by Chicago.
He shrugged off criticism from the Bulls’ Taj Gibson and Boston general manager Danny Ainge, who said he should not have complained about the fouls on Wednesday, then slammed the door on the Hornets.
‘’To hear boos during the name announcements and then to turn the crowd around and make it almost like a home game is really humbling,’’ he said. “It’s unbelievable to be part of something like that.’’
After his fifth 3, which gave the Heat a 42-27 lead, he walked by himself along the side of the court, raising his arm over his head to ask for applause, which he received along with a smattering of boos.
‘’That was my appreciation,’’ he said of his gesture. ‘’I was letting them know I heard them.’’
Most of his 3s were face-up shots from a few feet behind the arc when no one challenged him, respecting his driving ability. The last was a pull-up from the side with no space, as if he wanted to find out exactly how hot he was.
He finally missed two in a row on the Heat’s next possession, but they were leading 47-27 by then.
‘’I’m glad I was on the bench,’’ said Wade, who sat out during James’ torrid stretch. ‘’I had a chance to watch the show. When any player gets going like that, it’s phenomenal.’’
Ryan Anderson had 20 points off the bench for the Hornets. Eric Gordon scored 17, and Al-Farouq Aminu tied his career high with 16 rebounds.
James also hit a pair of jumpers during his hot streak, scoring a season-high 28 points in the first half as Miami went ahead 60-43.
AP
