The Miami Heat easily handled the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday, winning their 26th straight game and inching closer to the all-time record for consecutive wins in the NBA.
LeBron James had 32 points and 10 assists to go with eight rebounds as the Heat made easy work of the Bobcats , 109-77. The Heat held a 47-39 lead at halftime but broke out in the third and fourth quarters to put the game away.
With the win the Miami Heat have moved to within seven games of tying the all-time record of 33 consecutive wins set by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1971-72.
During their streak the Heat have won all kinds of games, from blowouts like the one against the Bobcats to nail-biters like this week’s contest with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the game the Heat trailed by as many as 27 points before coming alive in the third quarter, storming back to win the game behind some clutch shots from LeBron James.
The Heat’s winning streak has so captivated the NBA and its fans that even members of the Lakers record-making squad are pulling for them.
Jerry West , who averaged 25.8 points and 9.7 assists per game for the Lakers in the 1971-72 season, said this week that he likes watching the way the Miami Heat play as a team.
“They’ve got great 3-point shooting and they’re never out of a game because of that.” West said. “Then they’ve got the best player in the game that does all the little things. I’m sure any coach would love to coach him because he does so much. I never thought this streak would live forever. No, not in today’s games. … I just think it’s a streak that could very easily be broken this year. I really believe that.”
The Miami Heat have a chance to push the winning streak to 27 games on Monday when they visit the Orlando Magic.