LeBron James and the Miami Heat turned up the temperature in the third quarter on Wednesday, rallying from a 10-point deficit to beat Atlanta 89-86 and take their NBA record to 30-9.
James led the way with 31 points and 11 rebounds while Dwyane Wade, who missed the second half of Tuesday’s victory over New Jersey with a sore right ankle, finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Miami.
Josh Smith did what he could, leading the Hawks with 23 points. Even the Heat’s surge late in the third only tied the game heading into the final period at 68-68.
Smith capped a 9-0 Hawks spurt with a three-pointer to give Atlanta an 80-77 lead with 3:29 to play.
But Miami responded with baskets by Chris Bosh, Wade and Udonis Haslem to edge ahead 83-80.
The Heat led 85-81 when they gave up a three-point play, fouling Hawks guard Jannero Pargo as he drove for a lay-up.
Haslem stretched the advantage again, scoring off a pass from Wade for an 87-84 lead with 12 seconds remaining.
After a lay-up by Atlanta’s Vladimir Radmanovic, Wade was fouled with 2.7 seconds remaining. He made both and Pargo was unable to convert a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game.
The Washington Wizards scored a thrilling comeback win over the LA Lakers.
Roger Mason led a spirited four-quarter comeback as Kobe Bryant lost his shooting touch down the stretch as the Wizards came from 21-points down to win 106-101.
Mason finished with 14 points, and John Wall had nine assists while Bryant scored 30, but he went one for 10 from the field in the fourth quarter.
In Philadelphia, the 76ers defeated Boston 103-71 with Evan Turner scoring a career-best 26 points, helping the hosts rout the Celtics to maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division.
Travelling Utah edged Charlotte 99-93 with Al Jefferson scoring 31 points as the Jazz controlled the paint, where they outscored the Bobcats 54-36 and outrebounded them 43-34.
In Toronto, the Raptors thumped Houston 116-98 with DeMar DeRozan scoring 23 points as the home side used a rare offensive outburst to beat the Rockets.
Linas Kleiza added 19 points while Jose Calderon had 17 points and 12 assists for the Raptors, who wrapped up a 2-2 homestand with one of their strongest games of the season.
The Timberwolves downed Portland 106-94 at home with Wes Johnson slotting 19 points to back Kevin Love’s 29 points and 16 rebounds for home team Minnesota.
