It was a homestand like no other in Heat history: five games; five victories; four nights and one Sunday matinee of LeBron James and the Heat at their absolute best.
James and the Heat seemed to play better with every game and peaked Tuesday with a wildly entertaining 117-104 victory against the Portland Trial Blazers. Miami (35-14) has won six consecutive games overall, eight in a row at AmericanAirlines Arena and 11 of its past 13. If this is what the Heat looks like at the All-Star break, then the rest of the league might be in trouble in the last few months of the regular season.
James, shooting recently with the efficiency of a world-class rifleman, was marvelous again, going 11 of15 from the field, 1 of 3 from three-point range and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line for 30 points, six rebounds and nine assists. James is the only player in NBA history to score at least 30 points in six consecutive games while also shooting 60 percent.
“He played a very good basketball game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s leading us, not only with his talent … but his effort plays and those game-changing plays that makes him the best.”
In his past six games, James is 66 of 92 from the field (.717).
Miami needed every point against Portland, a team that has historically dominated Heat. Remarkably, the Heat is just 6-18 at home all-time against the Trail Blazers.
The Heat trailed by five points with more than eight minutes to play before turning up the defensive pressure. Led by James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat outscored the Trail Blazers 27-9 to end the game.
“In the fourth quarter, our guys became electrified,” Spoelstra said.
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