Hawks vs. Heat final score: Heat come back in regulation, hold off Hawks in OT

LeBron James’ late surge in regulation helped Miami come from behind for the win.

Dec 24, 2013, 3:44 AM UTC

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Heat just continue to remind us they’re almost never out of a game.

Miami fell behind a hot-shooting Hawks team by seven points with 1:40 remaining in regulation, but LeBron James hit a couple of big threes to ignite a Heat comeback, and the defending champs held off feisty Atlanta, 121-119, in overtime on Monday night.

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But it was yet another poster from LeBron with 14 seconds remaining in regulation that kept Miami within one possession.

The Hawks did a decent job of executing down the stretch and hitting their free throws in the face of James’ scoring run, but it was a defensive mishap at the end of the fourth quarter that changed the game.

DeMarre Carroll fouled Ray Allen on a three-point attempt from the right corner when the Heat were down by three, and Paul Millsap wasn't able to convert on a couple of difficult opportunities before the buzzer sounded to send the game to overtime. At that point, Atlanta just couldn't hold on anymore, especially after Millsap fouled out.

Millsap made 31 three-pointers during his entire seven-year career in Utah. Against the Heat he hit seven of them. The new Hawk finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds, Al Horford put in 21 and grabbed 12 rebounds and Jeff Teague dropped in 26 points and eight assists.

James put up 38 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the way for Miami, and Ray Allen pitched in 19 of his own in Dwyane Wade’s absence.

On another note, Chris Bosh was forced from this game in the fourth quarter after taking a Millsap elbow to the face. He had to head to the locker room during a critical stretch, receiving eight stitches for a lacerated lip.