Heat Edge Cavaliers in Wild Comeback, Extend Streak to 24

Fitzgerald Cecilio

Cleveland, OH

LeBron James tallied a triple-double while Mario Chalmers added 17 as the Miami Heat erased a 27-point deficit en route to a 98-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 24th consecutive win at Quicken Loans Arena.

With the win, the Heat (53-14) are within nine games of tying the record of 33 straight victories set by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1971-72 season.

James finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade and Shane Battier added 11 apiece while veteran Ray Allen had 10 as the Heat matched the biggest comeback in the NBA this season.

Wayne Ellington scored 20 points for the Cavaliers, who looked headed for an upset victory after taking a 67-40 lead, with 7:44 remaining in the third period despite missing Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao.

Tristan Thompson added 18 points, Shaun Livingson had 14, Tyler Zeller recorded 12 points and 11 boards while Alonzo Gee and CJ Miles scored 10 points each for the Cavaliers (22-46), who blew the largest lead in franchise history.

Zeller scored five straight points, including a three-point play, to put the Cavaliers ahead, 67-40, but the Heat scored them, 28-10, to trim the deficit to 77-68.

James then poured 11 points in a 17-2 run to open the fourth and put the Heat ahead, 85-79, with 6:58 to play.

The Cavaliers outscored the Heat, 16-11, to trim the gap to 96-95, and had several chances of taking the lead after Wade missed a jumper with 27 seconds left.

However, Ellington missed a 23-foot jumper and Gee fouled James, who sank two foul shots for the final count.

LeBron James scored 25 points as the Miami Heat overcame a 27-point deficit in the third quarter and won their 24th straight game, 98-95 over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night to extend the second-longest winning streak in NBA history

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Heat Edge Cavaliers in Wild Comeback, Extend Streak to 24