The Miami Heat warmed up for a Christmas Day blockbuster by beating the Utah Jazz 105-89 on Saturday, with LeBron James scoring 30 points.
The Heat’s next game is tomorrow against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a reprise of last year’s NBA finals series.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies were convincingly beaten by the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Golden State Warriors in overtime and the Atlanta Hawks were too good for the Chicago Bulls in a clash of Eastern Conference heavyweights.
Photo: EPA
Miami’s James has scored at least 20 points in all 24 Heat games this season, matching the longest run of 20-or-more efforts to start a campaign since Karl Malone did it for Utah in 1989-1990.
Dwyane Wade added 21 points and seven assists as the Heat rode the strength of a big third quarter to beat Utah, going on a 22-6 run to open the second half.
Marvin Williams scored 16 for Utah, who played the second half without Mo Williams, who appeared to hurt his right thumb.
The Lakers came from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime and beat the Warriors 118-115.
Kobe Bryant had 34 points and 10 rebounds, while Steve Nash finished with 12 points and nine assists in his first game in almost two months.
The 38-year-old Nash came back from 24 games out with a small fracture in his lower left leg and made only his second appearance for the Lakers. He converted a step-back shot for the final points in overtime to lift Los Angeles to their fourth straight victory.
Jarrett Jack scored 29 points in a disappointing collapse for Golden State, which had won 11 of 14 games to get off to their best start in 20 years.
Atlanta had a surprisingly comfortable 92-75 home win over Central Division-leading Chicago, moving further clear of the Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings.
Al Horford had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and every Atlanta starter scored in double figures. Hawks starters outscored Chicago’s starters 72-39 in coach Larry Drew’s 100th victory.
Luol Deng paced Chicago with 11 points, but the Bulls could not build on a victory over the Knicks in New York on Friday.
The Portland Trail Blazers notched a fifth-straight win for the first time in two seasons by beating the Phoenix Suns 96-93.
Portland’s J.J. Hickson had 19 points and 15 rebounds for his seventh straight double-double, while rookie Damian Lillard had 25 points, including 18 in the second half.
The Suns led by 12 points in the first half, but saw their run of four straight wins ended.
The Denver Nuggets inflicted a 15th successive loss on Charlotte, beating the Bobcats 110-88.
Kosta Koufos scored a season-high 16 points, and Kenneth Faried and Andre Iguodala added 15 points apiece as the Nuggets won at home for the sixth straight time.
The Indiana Pacers overcame a 22-point deficit to down New Orleans 81-75, handing the Hornets an 11th successive defeat. It is the team’s longest losing skid in 18 years.
David West scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half while Paul George had 20 for Indiana, who have won seven of eight.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were one team capable of ending a downward spiral, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 94-82 after losing their previous six. The Cavs had also lost nine in a row against Milwaukee.
Dion Waiters scored 18 points to help Cleveland offset the continued absence of injured center Anderson Varejao.
In Saturday’s other game, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 96-87.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping