(Reuters) – LeBron James helped Miami finally find a way past the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 35 points in the Heat’s 114-96 victory on Monday.
The Bucks had beaten the Heat in both meetings this season, and three successive times overall, but they were steamrolled on Monday despite taking an eight-point lead in the first quarter.
Inflicting most of his damage from close range, James made 16 of 21 field goal attempts and keyed Miami’s third-quarter surge where they took a stranglehold on the game to cruise to a sixth win in seven games.
Milwaukee’s quick start was erased in the second quarter and they trailed by five at halftime. The Heat upped the pace after the intermission and outscored the home team 35-24 in the third.
Dwyane Wade chipped in with 22 points as Miami (22-7) moved within a half-game of the Chicago Bulls for the Eastern Conference lead.
Carlos Delfino finished with a team-high 24 points for the Bucks (12-16), who shot just 39 percent in slumping to their fifth defeat in seven games.
