James Scores Season High 51 Points as Heat Slip by Magic

Orlando, Florida - LeBron James had 51 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, as the 23-point lead in the first quarter Miami 104-100 victory at Orlando on Thursday night.

It was a season high of James, whose scoring effort associated with the fifth best score of his career.

The heat has operated a fine line missing injured starting Magic forward Brandon Bass. It took less than 23 points. Dwyane Wade added 15 points and Chris Bosh 13.

Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 22 points. Dwight Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but only one point after the break and was only 3 to 13 at the free throw line. Jason Richardson chipped in 16 race victory was the fourth straight. Magic lost for the fourth time in their last six season series 2-1 and lost to Miami.

The Heat led by 16 entering the final period and 90-69 before the Magic went 19-4 run, capped by Gilbert Arenas' 3-pointer cut the lead to 94-88 with 1:51 left in the game.

But James responded with his own Trey with the clock winds down to give Miami a 97-88 cushion.

Missed 3-pointer by Richardson at the other end was deflected by James, who was fouled and hit one of two free throws. Another 3 by Richardson narrowed the gap to 98-91 with 51.1 seconds left.

Nelson hit a jumper to cut to 98-93, then 99-95 with a pair of free throws with 22.5 to play.
After a couple of free throws by James to make it 103-97, Nelson hit a 3 point with 9.4 seconds left. The Heat lost the ball in the game that followed the tracks, but the Magic could not draw on their next possession. Wade hit a free throw to provide the final margin.

Heat led 55-45 at halftime as James magic defense picked it apart with a combination of midrange jumpers and runners in the lane.

He hit his shots from a November night and finished the half 29 points. His fast start helped Miami to shoot bubbles 58 percent in the opening 24 minutes.

Howard had 16 points and Turkoglu 11 to help keep the magic of striking distance, as James teammates combined for only 26 points. Bosh scored nine points in the first half, Wade scored five points, but it was November 4 terminals in the field.

James started his scoring spree in the opening 12 minutes straight at Türkoğlu Earl Clark and later when he came off the bench.

He had 23 points in the period, reaching nine of his shots on goal in the field and is June 5 at the free throw line as the Heat was ahead 30-26 in the second quarter.

James' 23 points in the first quarter broke Alonzo Mourning, the Heat scoring 21 points in the book, which established in 1996.

Magic did not help their hairline in front of everyone, getting into foul trouble first.

Howard took only 17 seconds to collect his first whistle of the night and was a bit shy on the inside of the defensive the rest of the period. Ryan Anderson were also hands a little too active when he was forced to the bench after picking up his second foul at the 10:07 mark.