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LeBron James leads Heat past Cavaliers, 100-96

Miami Heat forward LeBron James, right, drives around Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jarrett Jack during the second quarter of the Heat's 100-96 victory on Tuesday.
(Tony Dejak / Associated Press)
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LeBron James scored 43 points — 25 during an amazing first-quarter shooting display — and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the visiting Miami Heat to a 100-96 victory Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played their first game without injured All-Star guard Kyrie Irving.

Miami’s Dwyane Wade sat out to rest his knees, but the Heat’s two other stars picked up the slack and put away the Cavaliers.

“I don’t know, it’s one of those zones,” James said after he made 10 of 11 shots and five three-pointers in the opening quarter. “When I started the game off, I felt like I could have gone for 50 or 60.”

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Jarrett Jack scored 22 and Dion Waiters had 17 points and 11 assists for Cleveland, which was also without forward Luol Deng (sprained ankle). Irving is expected to miss two weeks with a strained biceps tendon, an injury that further damages the Cavaliers’ fading playoff hopes.

James improved to 13-1 against the team he left after seven seasons as a free agent in 2010. He had 31 points by halftime and 37 through three quarters, but the Heat entered the final 12 minutes tied as the Cavaliers shot 60% from the field through three and had all five starters in double figures.

at Atlanta 118, Toronto 113 (OT): Jeff Teague equaled his career best with 34 points, Paul Millsap had the first triple-double of his career and the Hawks extended their longest winning streak of the season to five. Millsap had 19 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

at Portland 120, Milwaukee 115 (OT): Wesley Matthews had 26 points, including a key three-pointer in overtime, and Damian Lillard scored 10 of his 20 points in the extra session as the Trail Blazers overcame the Bucks, who are 2-24 against the Western Conference.

at Sacramento 117, Washington 111 (OT): Isaiah Thomas had his first career triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Kings rallied in the fourth quarter and overtime to end a two-game losing streak.

at Golden State 103, Orlando 89: Stephen Curry had 23 points and five assists, Klay Thompson and David Lee each scored 20 points and the undermanned Warriors handed the Magic its sixth loss in a row. Golden State was without Andre Iguodala (right knee tendinitis), Andrew Bogut (left ankle inflammation) and Jermaine O’Neal (undisclosed reasons).

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