MIAMI, (Reuters) – LeBron James added to his former team’s misery by helping the Miami Heat to a 117-90 blowout win over Cleveland on Monday, handing the reeling Cavaliers their single-season record 21st straight loss.
James, who angered Cleveland fans when he announced his decision to sign with the Heat on a nationally televised show last July, had 24 points and eight assists while Dwyane Wade had a game-high 34 points in a rout of the NBA’s worst team.
“I have nothing bad to say about the players that I left and the team,” James told reporters. “I wish the organisation the best. And I wish the fans, more than anything, the best because we had a lot of great years together.”
Antawn Jamison led Cleveland with 21 points and 10 rebounds but the Cavaliers (8-40) could not halt their skid and are two losses shy of tying the single-season NBA losing streak record shared by the Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96) and Denver Nuggets (1997-98).
The overall record for consecutive losses is 24, set by the Cavs over the span of the 1981-82 and 1982-83 NBA seasons.
Leading the whole way on Monday, Miami briefly had their advantage trimmed to 70-67 in the third before they answered with nine straight points and eventually opened up a 30-point lead in the fourth.
The Heat (34-14) won their third straight game and moved into sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game in front of the Chicago Bulls.
It was the second straight game Miami had their “Big Three” of James, Wade and Chris Bosh playing together after all three had suffered from various injuries over the past three weeks.
Bosh finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
James, the two-times reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, has earned victories in each of the Heat’s three games against his former team this season.
His departure from Cleveland has sent the franchise into a tailspin. The team has dealt with injuries and disappointment under first-year coach Byron Scott while losing 31 of their last 32 games.
The two teams will have their final meeting of the regular season on March 29 when Miami travels to Cleveland.
