NEW YORK: LeBron James and the NBA champion Miami Heat ended the Brooklyn Nets' home winning streak in emphatic style Wednesday with a 105-85 triumph at the Barclays Centre.
The Heat shot 51.8 percent from the field and made 11-of-19 from three-point range to notch their 13th straight victory over the Nets -- including a sweep of all three regular-season games on the schedule in this campaign.
Miami bounced back from a double-overtime loss at Boston on Sunday, and halted the Nets' eight-game home winning streak.
Hours after Nets forward Reggie Evans said during his team's morning shoot-around that the Heat's 2012 title was devalued because it came in a lockout-shortened season, the champs showed they remain a cut above.
James scored 24 points with nine rebounds and seven assists. Dwyane Wade added 21 points and Chris Bosh scored 16 for a Miami team that broke open a close game with a 36-14 third quarter.
Brook Lopez, named to the All-Star game in place of injured Rajon Rondo of Boston on Wednesday, scored 21 points and Joe Johnson contributed 16. But the Nets were undone by 19 turnovers, including eight in the key third period.
The Heat continue a four-game road trip on Friday at Indiana and wrap it up on Sunday at Toronto.
-AFP/fl
Basketball: Heat scorch Nets 105-85
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Basketball: Heat scorch Nets 105-85