PHOENIX: LeBron James scored 37 points and Chris Bosh added 21 to power the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat over the Phoenix Suns 103-97 yesterday.
James also grabbed nine rebounds, made five steals and passed off three assists while Bosh contributed eight rebounds for Miami.
The Heat bounced back from a loss three nights earlier at Utah and defeated the Suns for an eighth meeting in a row.
Miami improved to 36-14, the second-best record in the Eastern Conference to league-leader Indiana (40-11).
The Suns, who won six of their prior eight games, slipped to 30-21, seventh in the Western Conference.
Miami will visit Golden State on Wednesday before a break for the NBA All-Star game, at which James, Bosh and star guard Dwyane Wade — who did not play because of a migraine — will represent the Eastern Conference.
Mario Chalmers added 13 points and Norris Cole came off the bench to score 10 points for Miami.
Gerald Green led the Suns with 26 points while Goran Dragic and Channing Frye added 15 points each and P J Tucker netted 14 for Phoenix.
Miami led 92-89 when James sparked a closing 11-8 run with a jump shot and a slam dunk. After Green and Bosh traded 3-pointers, James added four free throws in the final seconds to clinch the triumph.
Taj Gibson scored 24 points and center Joakim Noah collected his fourth career triple-double, leading the Chicago Bulls to a victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Gibson continued to shine while starting in place of injured forward Carlos Boozer. Gibson hit 12-of-19 shots from the field, adding 12 rebounds and five assists.
Al Jefferson scored 30 points and forward Anthony Tolliver came off the bench to score 22 as the Charlotte Bobcats cooled off the streaking Dallas Mavericks.
The Bobcats went on extended runs to open both the second and third quarters, going on a 10-0 spurt to open the second quarter and then a 13-1 run in the third. They led by as many as 27.
AFP
