Here’s how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing. The ball wound up in the seats anyway.INDIANAPOLIS – LeBron James and Dwyane Wade found a way to motivate their teammates Tuesday night.
They challenged them to play for history.
James scored 23 points and nearly produced his first triple double in 11 months as Miami rolled to a 105-90 victory at Indiana to become the first NBA team in 33 years to win three road games in three nights.
“I think as far as team chemistry, we got better every single night,” James said. “Tonight we had 17 assists. We rebounded and defended. When we do that, we’re very, very tough to beat, and it shows the professionalism of the group.”
The Heat was playing its fourth road game in five days and were facing a team that had just gotten a two-day break and had hoped to make amends for a 35-point loss last month in Miami.
Instead, Indiana got Miami at full power.
After a quick start, the Heat dominated every facet until the closing minutes when the Pacers finally started trimming the lead.
Miami matched the three-game feat last achieved by Phoenix from Dec. 21 to 23, 1979. Plus, at 23-7, Miami has matched its best start ever.
“Our guys wanted this challenge and we were well aware it had not been done in 40 years, to back-to-back-to-back on the road and be able to stay focused,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
KNICKS 90, RAPTORS 87: In Toronto, Jeremy Lin made a tiebreaking three-pointer with less than a second to play and New York rallied to beat Toronto.
The NBA’s first American-Taiwanese player, Lin had 27 points and a career-high 11 assists in his first game since being named Eastern Conference player of the week.
BULLS 115, KINGS 112: In Chicago, Luol Deng scored 23 points and a career-high 11 assists, as Chicago escaped with a win over Sacramento after watching a 19-point, fourth-quarter lead dwindle to two.
SPURS 99, PISTONS 95: In Auburn Hills, Mich., Tim Duncan had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and San Antonio overcame a spirited Detroit rally to beat the Pistons.
THUNDER 111, JAZZ 85: In Oklahoma City, James Harden scored 22 points, Kevin Durant added 21 and Oklahoma City beat Utah.
GRIZZLIES 93, ROCKETS 83: In Memphis, Tenn., Mike Conley scored 21 points, and Rudy Gay added 20 points and eight rebounds to lead Memphis past Houston.
