Lenard Keeps Topping Himself to Help Heat Win

If Voshon Lenard’s recent improvement continues, he’ll be scoring in the 50s next week.

Lenard had 38 points, his second career-high total in two nights, to help the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 102-90, Thursday night at Miami.

Lenard made 13 of 20 shots, including six of 11 three-point attempts. The former CBA player’s performance followed a 28-point effort Wednesday in Miami’s victory at Boston.

“Guys were giving me the three, and I was going to take them,” Lenard said. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

The Heat (36-12), who beat Milwaukee for the 16th consecutive time, take a six-game winning streak into the All-Star break. They have a two-game lead over the New York Knicks in the Atlantic Division.

Milwaukee lost for the fifth straight time, matching a season high. The Bucks fell five games below .500 for the first time this season.

New York 96, San Antonio 84--Playing without center Patrick Ewing for the fourth straight game, the Knicks had little trouble with the overmatched Spurs at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks went 3-1 without Ewing, who is sidelined with a groin injury and will sit out the All-Star game.

Buck Williams provided New York with the inside muscle in Ewing’s absence, grabbing 19 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end. It was Williams’ highest rebounding total since getting 19 against the Knicks for Portland on Jan. 30, 1994.

Charlotte 115, Sacramento 100--The Hornets, winning their fourth in a row and 11th in 14 games, recorded their second-largest margin of victory this season and improved to 10 games over the .500 mark heading into the All-Star break.

Charlotte also extended their dominance over the Kings at home, beating them for the seventh straight time. Mitch Richmond had 37 points on 14 of 28 shooting to lead Sacramento in scoring for the ninth consecutive game.

Orlando 119, Boston 111--Rony Seikaly scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half and the Magic overcame poor foul shooting down the stretch at Orlando for their season-high fifth consecutive victory.

The Magic have won 12 of 14 after a slow start to reach the All-Star break with a 24-20 record. The Celtics are 2-18 on the road.

Detroit 96, Houston 87--The Rockets, who played without both Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley, lost their sixth consecutive game. The Pistons have won six of seven.

Detroit also improved to 7-2 at home against Houston since moving into the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Minnesota 103, Vancouver 86--James Robinson outscored the Grizzlies, 14-13, in the third quarter as the Timberwolves built a 75-59 lead heading into the fourth quarter at Minneapolis.

Vancouver was 28% from the field in the third quarter, compared to Minnesota’s 57%. Robinson made four straight three-point baskets and scored 14 consecutive points in the quarter.

The Grizzlies are 0-25 when allowing their opponents to score 100 or more points. The Timberwolves are 19-9 when holding an opponent under 100.

Indiana 104, New Jersey 100--The Pacers made 14 of 15 free throws in the fourth quarter to beat the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Reggie Miller had 26 points to lead the Pacers, who head into the All-Star break with a 23-23 record. Dale Davis had 13 points, 13 rebounds and a key block of a Kendall Gill layup attempt in the final minute with New Jersey trailing by two points.