2015 NBA scores: LeBron James can’t win in Miami and 3 other things we learned

The Heat have now defeated LeBron James’ Cavaliers the two times they’ve met in Miami. That and the rest of the action from Monday night in the NBA.

by Jeje Gomez

Mar 17, 2015, 11:55 AM UTC

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

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NBA schedule and results: Heat top Cleveland as LeBron James returns to Miami

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The Cavaliers were riding a four-game winning streak when they rolled into Miami to face a Heat team that had been inconsistent at best lately and had fallen out of the playoffs in the East. Yet this wasn't just another game, at least not for the home team. They dominated from the start thanks to a terrific performance by Dwyane Wade, who scored 32 points and completely outplayed the Cavaliers' stars. The victory allows the Heat to claim the eight spot in the conference, at least temporarily.

The Heat came out energized and clamped down on defense and on the boards, limiting Cleveland to only one shot per possession. That control in the rebounding department came as a result of a full team effort, as six Heat players finished the first half with at least two rebounds to the Cavaliers’ three. The unselfishness translated to the other end as well in the first quarter, when eight of Miami’s 11 buckets were assisted. The only reason the ball didn’t move as much in the second period is because it wasn’t necessary.

Wade took over, scoring 16 points in seven shots and looking as dominant as in his best days, to lead his team to an 18-point lead at the half that proved too much for the Cavaliers to overcome. The 33-year-old guard clearly loves playing against his friend and ex-teammate LeBron James, as evidenced by the fact that two of his four 30+ point games this season have come against Cleveland. His full array of moves was on display, including a deadly mid-range jumper.

While seemingly every important Heat player was thriving early, the Cavaliers' stars couldn't find their bearings in the first half. James and Kyrie Irving combined for 11 points in 19 shots and the team as a whole missed the outside shooting and rebounding Kevin Love (out for rest purposes) typically provides. Irving improved in the third quarter, scoring 10 points in four shots but James' struggles persisted until the fourth quarter, where his 16-point explosion only served to make the score look closer than it should have been.

In two visits to his old stomping grounds, LeBron James has seen his new team come out flat and dig a hole they were unable to crawl out of the rest of the way. Wade has looked rejuvenated and Miami’s supporting cast more competent than the Cavaliers’, at least on those nights. Two games likely won’t be enough for James to consider the pleas of Heat fans asking him to return but he surely won’t forget them as quickly as most other losses.

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3 other things we learned

The Wizards are not dead yet. Washington had a combined 12-17 record in January and February, squandering the good position they had gotten themselves in at the beginning of the season. Things were looking dire for the team going into the playoffs, as they looked doomed to finish fifth and face one of the conference's four good teams in the first round without home court advantage. How quickly things can change. They have gone 5-2 so far in March and have won the last four to stand just half a game below the slumping Bulls.

Marcin Gortat is playing better, Nene looks healthy and the rest of the starting lineup is clicking. They controlled the game on Monday against the Blazers from the tip-off, going into the break up 20 and withstanding Portland's push in the second half. All five starters logged double digits in points and John Wall was one rebound shy of a triple-double. The Wizards still have some weaknesses but are not looking like first round fodder anymore.

The Nuggets are doing too well for their own good since Brian Shaw was fired. The Denver front office reportedly pushed interim coach Melvin Hunt to rest Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari -- three of the team's best players -- for Monday's game against the Grizzlies, ostensibly in an effort to lose and improve their lottery chances. That clearly angered some of the players:.

Chandler: "It’s tough when you’re fighting together but you’re getting set up for failure." #Nuggets
— Chris Dempsey (@dempseypost) marzo 17, 2015

#Nuggets F Kenneth Faried asked about resting: "No comment."
— Chris Dempsey (@dempseypost) marzo 17, 2015

Yet the Nuggets still kept the game close against the second best team in the West, on the road, before failing to pull off the upset in the end. Since Shaw was fired the Nuggets have gone 6-3 and have the seventh highest net rating in the league. While the decision the front office made is reprehensible, it does seem like the players weren’t trying hard when their former coach was still in charge, which prevents them from claiming the moral high ground. The Nuggets have had a strange season so it’s fitting that the unrest continues even when they are doing well on the court.

The Thunder could struggle to make the postseason. With Westbrook playing at a superlative level, it seemed the Thunder were a shoo-in to get the eighth spot in the West and maybe climb higher. In their last 10 games, however, they have only managed to emerge victorious five times. On Monday they had a chance to beat the Mavericks even without Serge Ibaka but couldn't hold on to the lead they had created and Dallas took advantage. Westbrook almost logged another triple-double but wasn't as sharp as usual and fouled out with his team down four and with one minute to go trying to steal an inbound.

Oklahoma City is now only half a game ahead of the Pelicans in the standings and New Orleans owns the tiebreaker. Kevin Durant is still out, Serge Ibaka has not timetable to return and the Thunder don't have an easy schedule. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are still somehow finding ways to win despite injuries. The Thunder are still the most likely survivor but their margin of error has all but disappeared. Any more close losses like Monday's could come back to haunt them.

Play of the night

DeMarcus Cousins is having a monster season in Sacramento but because the Kings have been out of the playoff picture for a while, most people aren't paying attention. When he throws down a dunk like the one he had on the Hawks on Monday, though, it's impossible not to notice how special a player he is.

Most big men would have either committed a charge or traveled but Cousins has the body control to get around Pero Antic and flush it on Mike Muscala.