The Miami Heat railed early and waited until the end of the third quarter to make their move, winning by double figures for the ninth game in a row by beating New Orleans 96-84.
Dwyane Wade scored 32 points, topping 30 for the third consecutive game, and Chris Bosh added 23 points and 11 rebounds.
LeBron James had 20 points and seven assists for Miami, which became the sixth team in NBA history to win nine straight games by at least 10 points or more.
PHOTO: AFP
Only three teams — the 2007 to 2008 Houston Rockets, 2003 to 2004 New Jersey Nets and 1946 to 1947 Washington Capitols — have won 10 straight by at least 10 points and the Heat will try to match the NBA record tomorrow against James’ former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
David West had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who are 3-9 since an 11-1 start.
BUCKS 103, MAVERICKS 99
In Dallas, Brandon Jennings had 23 points and 10 assists and Milwaukee rallied from a 20-point second-quarter deficit to end Dallas’ 12-game winning streak.
Andrew Bogut had 21 points and 14 rebounds and Keyon Dooling added 16 points for the Bucks, who won their fourth in five games.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points and Shawn Marion had 14 for the Mavericks.
BULLS 92, PACERS 73
In Chicago, Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 18 rebounds and Derrick Rose added 17 points and 12 assists as Chicago got its first six-game winning streak since Nov. 25 to Dec. 8, 2006.
The 73 points was a season-low for Indiana and it was the third-straight game Chicago held its opponent to a season-worst total. The Bulls held the Los Angeles Lakers to 84 points on Friday and the Minnesota Timberwolves to 82 points on Saturday.
Brandon Rush and T.J. Ford both had 13 points for Indiana.
JAZZ 108, WARRIORS 95
In Salt Lake City, Deron Williams scored 30 points and reserve C.J. Miles had 20 points and six rebounds as Utah sent Golden State to its seventh straight loss.
Paul Millsap added 16 points for Utah, including 10 points in the third quarter when the Jazz outscored the Warriors 31-24 to take a 74-70 lead.
Dorell Wright led Golden State with 20 points, including four three-pointers. Reggie Williams added 10 for the Warriors.
GRIZZLIES 86, TRAIL BLAZERS 73
In Memphis, Tennessee, Zach Randolph had 25 points and 20 rebounds and Rudy Gay added 16 points to lead Memphis to its third straight win.
The victory snapped an eight-game winning streak for Portland in Memphis.
Wesley Matthews scored 18 points and Andre Miller had 14 points and nine assists for Portland, which lost its second straight after a four-game winning streak.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care