NBA: Miami Heat make it 26-in-a-row with comfortable win over Bobcats

Miami closed in on the LA Lakers' 41-year record with a 109-77 win over Charlotte - despite missing all-star guard Dwyane Wade.

Charlotte Bobcats' Michael Kidd-Gilchrist guards LeBron James at the American Airlines Arena.
Powered by automated translation

The Miami Heat extended their winning streak to 26 games after crushing the lowly Charlotte Bobcats 109-77 - despite playing without their all-star guard Dwyane Wade.

LeBron James scored 32 points as the Heat continued their march towards making National Basketball Association history. The reigning league MVP also had 10 assists and eight rebounds.

"I think it is on everyone else's radar now with just where we are being in second place all time in most consecutive wins," said James afterwards.

"For us, we want to just continue to play our game and continue to play the opponents on our schedule."

Chris Bosh chipped in 15 points and Ray Allen had 14 for Miami, who were without Wade because of a sore right knee.

The victory puts the Heat within seven wins of matching the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' all-time record for consecutive victories, but James believes the Heat's record run is already more impressive than the Lakers side of 40 years ago.

"Look at how competitive the game is today," he said.

"Back then the leagues were separate. It wasn't a full league. You had the ABA (American Basketball Association) and the NBA and some of the greatest players weren't in (NBA) so the competition wasn't as strong as it is now."

Kemba Walker scored a team-high 20 points and Gerald Henderson finished with 18 for the Bobcats, who have dropped 14 of their last 17 games.

Charlotte tied the game early in the second quarter, but Miami pulled ahead for good with a 10-0 run for a 33-23 lead.

Allen hit a pair of three-pointers and scored the final eight points during the run. The Heat led by as much as 14 in the second quarter and seized an eight point, 47-39, lead at halftime.

Charlotte cut the deficit to 54-49 with just over eight minutes to go in the third quarter, but were outscored 19-8 the remainder of the third.

Miami opened the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run and cruised to the final buzzer to record their 11th straight win against the Bobcats - who now have the worst record in the NBA this season.

Follow us