Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - LeBron James scored 20 points and added seven rebounds, and seven assists, as the Miami Heat earned an easy 101-78 win over the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center.
Heat Hand Nets First Loss Of Year, 101-78
Chris Bosh chipped in with 18 points and Dwyane Wade went for 17 points and seven assists for Miami, which has won three straight since a season-opening loss at Boston. Miami shot 53.7 percent from the field, but made only 5-of-16 from three-point territory.
"We did a great job of attacking," James said about the Heat's offense. "Chris (Bosh) finally found his shot which was great. He was aggressive. Wade took nine shots, I took 12 shots and we were able to get to the line 12 apiece. That means we were aggressive also."
Brook Lopez had a team-leading 20 points for the Nets, who opened the 2010-11 campaign with victories over Detroit and Sacramento. Devin Harris donated 13 points, while rookie Derrick Favors finished with 13 points and a game-high 13 boards in defeat.
“Over the course of the season, you have two, three or four games where you’re not very good and this was one of them,” Nets head coach Avery Johnson said. “We just weren’t very good tonight from the start.”
Miami jumped out to a 29-18 lead after the opening 12 minutes behind 10 points from Wade and eight from Bosh.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas then scored the first six points of the second quarter as part of a 12-5 Heat run and after a James' driving layup and a dunk, Miami was ahead 41-23 with 7:13 before the half.
The visitors held a double-digit lead throughout the period and James Jones' three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining, put Miami up 58-42 heading into the intermission.
New Jersey was unable to cut into the deficit, as James’ layup at the midway point of the third had Miami in front by a 68-53 margin and it would take a commanding 85-61 advantage into the final quarter.
The Nets never threatened the outcome in the fourth as Miami cruised to the easy victory.
Miami won all four meetings with New Jersey a season ago and is 12-4 in the last 16 meetings. The Heat have won seven of their last eight at New Jersey...The Nets shot only 35.3 percent from the floor and 21.4 percent (3- for-14) from beyond the arc.
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