LeBron James scores 21 as Heat routs Nets

LeBron James scored 21 points and capped his night by banking in a halfcourt shot, Chris Bosh added 20 points and the host Miami Heat snapped a two-game slide by rolling past the Nets, 108-78, Tuesday night.

The win came with a cost: Dwyane Wade turned his right ankle late in the first half and did not return, finishing with 13 points. Wade missed six games earlier this season after spraining the same ankle, though the team said he could have returned to this one if needed.

The Heat made 12 of their first 15 shots on the way to a 10th straight home win. James finished 9-for-11, adding nine rebounds and six assists, and the 78 points allowed matched Miami's season-best.

Deron Williams, who was coming off an season-high 57 points in a win over Charlotte, scored 16 for the Nets. MarShon Brooks scored 12 and Johan Petro added 11 for the Nets, who lost to the Heat for the ninth straight time.

Miami's lead was 64-37 at the half and the Heat shot a season-best 66 percent in the first three quarters.

The Nets were without Brook Lopez, who's expected to miss the next three weeks with a sprained right ankle. His replacement, Shelden Williams, went scoreless in 17 minutes.

Miami's "Big Three" of James, Bosh and Wade totaled 54 points, shooting 24-for-33 from the field. All 12 Heat players either scored or logged double-figure minutes and even little-used center Eddy Curry got into the act, getting into his 10th game of the season and playing the final 5:59.

Bosh had missed Miami's last three games while dealing with the death of his grandmother, and had a message written to her on his game sneakers.

"She wouldn't have it any other way," Bosh said. "She'd tell me, 'Go back to work. Work hard.' She lives on in our minds, so I came back to work."

With the win, Miami (29-9) pulled within two games of the Bulls (32-8) for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. And the Heat are apparently getting into scoreboard-watching mode, with coach Erik Spoelstra spending part of the team's shootaround in the morning going over the latest standings and where Miami matches up among the other NBA elite. -- AP