LeBron scores 38 to lead Heat over Bobcats

Source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – LeBron James scored 38 points and Dwyane Wade added 31 to power Miami past Charlotte 96-82, giving the Heat their 11th NBA road victory in a row.

James made 15-of-26 shots from the field and grabbed nine rebounds while Wade hit 12-of-20 shots and added 11 rebounds as the Heat improved to 27-9 with their 18th victory in the past 19 games.

Before a rare sellout game in Charlotte, James said the Heat call themselves "the Heatles" because of the star power of James, Wade and Chris Bosh and the huge crowds they attract around the league.

"The Heatles - off of the Beatles," James said. "Every time we take our show on the road, we bring a great crowd out."

After a disappointing 9-8 start, the superstar trio have come together to become the formidable force fans expected.

"We didn't know what each other was thinking. Now we're on the same page," Wade said. "Us not being able to play together is not a conversation anymore. I think we do a good job of playing off each other.

"This is what we envisioned and it's starting to come true."

Charlotte missed 18 shots in a row over the second and third quarters and struggled without injured forward Gerald Wallace, center Nazr Mohammed and big man DeSagana Diop, diagnosed Monday as lost for the season with an Achilles tendon rupture.

James scored 26 points in the second half, sinking four shots in a row to give Miami a 78-59 lead entering the fourth quarter.

After a 10-2 Bobcats run, James hit a 3-pointer, made a steal and slammed in a reverse dunk to seal the victory.

"We're having a blast," James said. "We're having a good time. We're playing good basketball."

Paul Silas, who was the first NBA coach of James when both were with the Cleveland Cavaliers, fell to 2-2 since replacing fired coach Larry Brown in guiding the Bobcats.

"When Wade is going and LeBron is going, you have to call it a day," Silas said.

James said Silas was responsible for him "learning how to be a professional on and off the court" in his first two NBA seasons.

Stephen Jackson scored 22 points to lead the Bobcats, who fell to 11-21, while D.J. Augustin added 16. Bosh added 11 points for Miami.

"What can you do?" Jackson said. "You have to give props when props are due and they are great - two of the best players in the game and they played like it."