<p> Miami’s reserves starred in a critical late-game stretch to hand the Heat their seventh consecutive victory with a 120-108 home win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Following three tight quarters, the red-hot Heat rode their reserves during a 13-2 run early in the fourth that gave them a 106-92 advantage and a clear path to their latest triumph. <br /><br />The team’s bench scored all but two points during the game-breaking stretch, and finished with 32 for the game, to aid a game-high 30 points and 10 assists from Dwyane Wade. <br /><br />Wade had the crowd on their feet in the second quarter after a spectacular play that saw LeBron James block a shot then lob a near full-court pass to the guard, who caught it in midair and finished it. <br /><br />Chris Bosh added 20 and 10 rebounds and James chipped in 18 points to fuel NBA-leading Miami (26-7), who have won their last seven games by at least 12 points. The struggling Kings (10-22), who were without the injured John Salmons (hip), have now lost six straight. <br /><br />Isaiah Thomas put up a team-high 24 points and Marcus Thornton finished with 23 for Sacramento who took a six-point lead after the first quarter but fell behind late in the second and had to play catch up the rest of the way. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers made San Antonio pay dearly for resting two of their leading players, mauling the Spurs by 40 points in their worst defeat for nearly 15 years. <br />With San Antonio (23-10) playing their third game in four nights, coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest his veteran duo and the Blazers took full advantage, hammering the visitors 137-97 to snap the Spurs' 11-game win streak. <br /><br />It was San Antonio's most lopsided loss since falling to the Chicago Bulls by 42 points in March of 1997. <br /><br />LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points for Portland (18-16), who had six more players reach double-digits in scoring and led by as much as 48 points. Jamal Crawford took advantage of a rare start by recording 20 points and the Blazers shot 59 percent in a season-best offensive performance. <br /><br />Rookie Kawhi Leonard had a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs. <br />Results: Cleveland: 101 bt Detroit: 100; Indian: 117 bt (in overtime) New Orleans: 108; Miami: 120 bt Sacramento: 108; Memphis: 89 bt Philadelphia: 76; Portland: 137 bt San Antonio: 97.</p>
<p> Miami’s reserves starred in a critical late-game stretch to hand the Heat their seventh consecutive victory with a 120-108 home win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Following three tight quarters, the red-hot Heat rode their reserves during a 13-2 run early in the fourth that gave them a 106-92 advantage and a clear path to their latest triumph. <br /><br />The team’s bench scored all but two points during the game-breaking stretch, and finished with 32 for the game, to aid a game-high 30 points and 10 assists from Dwyane Wade. <br /><br />Wade had the crowd on their feet in the second quarter after a spectacular play that saw LeBron James block a shot then lob a near full-court pass to the guard, who caught it in midair and finished it. <br /><br />Chris Bosh added 20 and 10 rebounds and James chipped in 18 points to fuel NBA-leading Miami (26-7), who have won their last seven games by at least 12 points. The struggling Kings (10-22), who were without the injured John Salmons (hip), have now lost six straight. <br /><br />Isaiah Thomas put up a team-high 24 points and Marcus Thornton finished with 23 for Sacramento who took a six-point lead after the first quarter but fell behind late in the second and had to play catch up the rest of the way. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers made San Antonio pay dearly for resting two of their leading players, mauling the Spurs by 40 points in their worst defeat for nearly 15 years. <br />With San Antonio (23-10) playing their third game in four nights, coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest his veteran duo and the Blazers took full advantage, hammering the visitors 137-97 to snap the Spurs' 11-game win streak. <br /><br />It was San Antonio's most lopsided loss since falling to the Chicago Bulls by 42 points in March of 1997. <br /><br />LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points for Portland (18-16), who had six more players reach double-digits in scoring and led by as much as 48 points. Jamal Crawford took advantage of a rare start by recording 20 points and the Blazers shot 59 percent in a season-best offensive performance. <br /><br />Rookie Kawhi Leonard had a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs. <br />Results: Cleveland: 101 bt Detroit: 100; Indian: 117 bt (in overtime) New Orleans: 108; Miami: 120 bt Sacramento: 108; Memphis: 89 bt Philadelphia: 76; Portland: 137 bt San Antonio: 97.</p>
