Heat And Nuggets Continue Streaks – NBA Roundup For March 19th

UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Celtics ended the Houston Rockets' 22-game winning streak five years ago, but they couldn't do the same to the Miami Heat's 22-game run on Monday night.

The Heat have won 23 straight, the second-longest streak in NBA history and 10 away from the all-time record held by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James helped Miami stretch its winning streak by draining a long jumper with 10.5 seconds left in a 105-103 win over the Celtics. Boston led by 13 with eight minutes remaining before Miami closed on a 22-7 run.

James finished with 37 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds for the Heat. Mario Chalmers shot 4-for-5 from three-point range and had 21 points, while Dwyane (dwayn) Wade added 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

Boston ended an 11-game home winning streak despite Jeff Green's game-high 43 points.

Denver has picked up its 12th straight win. Andre Iguodala (ig-ah-DAH'-lah) hit a three-pointer with 7.1 seconds remaining in overtime as the Nuggets escaped Chicago with a 119-118 win over the Bulls.

Chicago looked like it might pull it out when Joakim (JOH'-kihm) Noah grabbed Marco Belinelli's shot and sank it with 1.7 seconds left, but a review of the play ruled offensive interference on the Bulls.

Wilson Chandler had a team-high 35 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets.

In other NBA action, Mike Conley had 20 points and six assists as Memphis beat Minnesota 92-77 to end a two-game skid. Tayshaun Prince scored 12 points, grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds and helped the Grizzlies outscore the Timberwolves in the paint 50-28.

Wes Johnson and Luis Scola each had 14 points and Phoenix outscored the Lakers 28-10 in the fourth quarter of a 99-76 win over Los Angeles. Former Sun Steve Nash had a game-high 19 points for the Lakers, who played their second straight game without Kobe Bryant because of a sprained ankle.

Gerald Green scored 13 of his team-high 20 points in the second quarter of Indiana's 111-90 rout of Cleveland. Tyler Hansbrough added 18 points and 11 rebounds in place of second-leading scorer David West, who missed the game with a sprained lower back suffered in Saturday's game against Philadelphia.

Deron Williams poured in 31 points in just 28 minutes of Brooklyn's 119-82 dismantling of Detroit. Brook Lopez added 18 points and seven rebounds as the Nets dealt the Pistons their ninth straight loss.

New York still leads the Atlantic Division by a game over the Nets after a 90-83 win at Utah. J.R. Smith finished with 20 points and Raymond Felton added 19 as the Knicks ended a four-game skid.

Stephen (STEF'-ehn) Curry shot 6-for-9 from three-point range while scoring 30 points in Golden State's 93-72 stifling of New Orleans. David Lee added 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Warriors moved nine games over .500.

The 76ers blew a 14-point lead before knocking off Portland 101-100. Jrue (juh-ROO') Holiday scored 27 points and Spencer Hawes added 18 and 13 rebounds in the Sixers' second straight win.

Darren Collison scored 24 points and Dirk Nowitzki chipped in 22 as Dallas topped the Hawks 127-113 in Atlanta. The Mavericks set a season high for points and shot 57 percent, with Collison going 10-for-14.

Gerald Henderson's 27 points and eight assists highlighted Charlotte's 119-114 triumph over Washington. Kemba Walker scored nine of his 18 points in the final three minutes to spark a 12-0 run that sent the Bobcats to just their second victory in 14 games.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — There's a chance Andrew Bynum will never play for the Philadelphia 76ers after the 25-year-old center undergoes season-ending arthroscopic surgery on both knees Tuesday.

Bynum hasn't played since being acquired by the Sixers from the Los Angeles Lakers after last season. He was coming off his best NBA season, averaging career highs with 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds while making his first All-Star team.

Bynum becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.