Sports Xchange
LeBron James poured in a career-high 61 points on 22-of-33 shooting to lead host Miami to its 16th straight win over Charlotte Monday, 124-107.
James, still wearing a mask to protect his broken nose, hit 8-of-10 from 3-point range en route to the 10th 50-point game of his career and his second with the Heat. Chris Bosh added 15 points for Miami, which has won eight straight and its 11th of 12.
Al Jefferson scored 26 of his 38 points in the first half and grabbed 19 rebounds to lead the Bobcats, who have lost three straight following a season-best four-game winning streak.
The Heat led 60-54 at halftime behind 24 points from James, who erupted for 25 in the third quarter as Miami stretched the lead to 98-79 entering the fourth. James was 9-for-11 in the period, hitting five 3-pointers and converting two three-point plays.
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James scored the first two buckets of the fourth to extend the margin to 102-79, and Charlotte didn’t get closer than 14 the rest of the way. James’ layup with 5:46 left gave him 57 points, pushing him past his previous high set against Toronto in 2005 and Glen Rice’s franchise record of 56 set against Orlando in 1995.
