MIAMI (Sporting Alert) — LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 52 points to guide the Miami Heat to a 90-78 victory over the Orlando Magic at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday.
James scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, dished out eight assists and two steals in the win for the Heat (25-7).
Wade got off to fast start and ended with 27 points and six rebounds for Miami, which collected its sixth straight win, each of which have been by double digits.
“This can’t be (our) top gear right now,” Wade said. “We want to go to another gear, and then another gear.
“Our next gear will be tuning up for the playoffs. Next gear after that will be playoffs. We know we still have ways we can get better.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “We want to make sure that we’re keeping things in perspective, we’re staying humble and understanding that NBA adage — you’re never quite as good as you think you are when you’re winning and you’re never quite as bad as you think you are when you’re losing,”
“And we are playing better, more consistent and we have taken another step forward as a basketball team.”
J.J. Redick scored 17 points, while Dwight Howard had 12 points and 15 rebounds to lead the way for the Magic (20-12).
“They just played harder than us,” said Howard. “They did do well tonight. They clogged the paint.
“They forced me to pass the ball out. It was a pretty good defensive effort. Every time I caught the ball in the paint, everyone was there.”
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy added: “There are things we can do to play better.
“And I’m sure Erik feels there are things they can do better as well.”
Earlier in the day, Jeremy Lin scored 28 points and 14 assists and the New York Knicks beat the Dallas Mavericks 104-97. Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 34 points for Dallas.
The Pacers 108 beat the Bobcats 73, Pistons 96 handed the Celtics 81 another, while rookie guard Kyrie Irving scored 23 in Cavaliers 93 narrow win over the Kings 92.
The 76ers 91 was beaten by the Timberwolves 92, Bucks stop the Nets, 92-85, Rockets 101, turned back the Jazz 85, the Suns stunned the Lakers 102-90 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 124-118 in overtime.
Kevin Durant scored a career-high 51 points in the win for the Thunder.
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