Music: {allcanada} HEAT BEAT RAPTORS TO EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 22 GAMES

Sunday, March 17, 2013

{allcanada} HEAT BEAT RAPTORS TO EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 22 GAMES

TORONTO -- LeBron James had 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Miami Heat extended their record winning-streak to 22 games with a 108-91 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.

Dwyane Wade had 24 points and nine assists while Chris Bosh chipped in 18 points for Miami (51-14), which matched the 2007-08 Houston Rockets at 22 and now trail just the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33). The Heat moved ahead of the 1970-71 Bucks (20) on Friday, fittingly, in Milwaukee.

Veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for the Heat, whose streak started in Toronto two days after losing at Indiana on Feb 1. Miami overcame a six-point halftime deficit to win that game 100-85 on Super Bowl Sunday.

Rudy Gay led Toronto (26-41) with 27 points and Amir Johnson pulled down 18 boards to go with 18 points. Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points and DeMar DeRozan added 12.

Toronto opened the fourth with Johnson dunking to make it a one-point game as the green-clad Air Canada Centre crowd erupted. Minutes later, Wade wowed with an alley-oop off a lob that came from half-court. That seemed to ignite the Heat as Miami went on a 8-0 run to make it 89-77 at 7:42.

Allen led the late drive with two at the line and two straight from downtown as Miami controlled the game down the stretch with an 21-point lead with five minutes left to play and never stumbled.

But it was Wade doing most of the work for Miami in the third with seven straight points to make it 66-55, but the Raptors crawled back on Valanciunas' jump hook and DeRozan's layup to force a Miami time out at 6:49. Bosh came out of the huddle with a triple, but again Toronto fought back to make it 76-71 with a minute left in the third. The crowd roared when DeRozan jacked up a two with nine seconds left on the clock to make it a three-point game going into the final quarter.

Allen made his presence felt in the second with a short-range bucket and nice reverse layup to stretch Miami's lead to 35-25 four minutes in. Chris Bosh, showered with boos at every touch of the ball, threw down a slam off a dish from Wade to make it 40-27 two minutes later.

Toronto finally got the fans on their feet with a Terrence Ross slam, but James quieted the arena with a wide open three to finish the half with the Heat leading 55-43 on 61 per cent shooting. Though the Raps shot 43 per cent, they controlled the boards with 29 rebounds to Miami's 10.

Gay, despite being tasked with the unenviable job of guarding James, shot 5 for 7 and finished the first half with 11 points.

James swished the first basket of the game, a three from the corner. But Gay answered right back with a field goal and later made a hard drive to the hoop for two plus the foul, tying the game at 10 midway through the quarter. Miami bench's came in for the final two minutes and went on a 8-2 run to close out the frame 27-19.

Before the game Raptors coach Dwane Casey preached the importance of taking care of the ball, but Toronto committed seven turnovers in the first that Miami converted into nine points.

Miami will attempt a 23rd straight win in Boston on Monday night against the Celtics.

The Raptors next play Wednesday in Charlotte before returning home to face the New York Knicks on Friday.

Notes: Toronto has lost 11 straight to Miami -- the team's longest active losing streak to an opponent. ... Miami has beaten every team in the NBA at least once this season. ... It was Toronto's third time playing at home on St. Patrick's Day and first since moving to the Air Canada Centre in 1999. ... Longtime Raptor Morris Peterson was in attendance to take in the game. He played seven seasons in Toronto and was honoured with a video montage between quarters. ... 40-year-old forward Juwan Howard was inactive for Miami. ... The Heat is 43-21 all-time against the Raptors.