CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cavaliers moved closer to clinching second in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, while putting the Miami Heat in danger of missing the playoffs.
Dwyane Wade went down with a knee injury in the first half, and the Heat’s playoff chances took another major blow with a 114-88 loss.
Wade sustained a bruised left knee in the first half and Miami didn’t have the firepower to stop the Cavs, who got 23 points apiece from LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and won their 17th straight at home. James added eight rebounds and seven assists against his former team.
Tristan Thompson added 15 rebounds for Cleveland, a league-best 30-7 since Jan. 15.
The Heat dropped into a tie for eighth place with idle Boston in the Eastern Conference standings.
LeBron play-calling flap:
LeBron James says he’s been calling plays throughout his NBA career and it would be foolish for a coach not to let him do so.
James likened the freedom he has on the floor to how NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have leeway to change plays in the huddle. The four-time NBA MVP said he doesn’t have the luxury to call all of Cleveland’s plays, but the team’s coaching staff trusts him to make the right read.
James said he calls plays “every game. I’ve done it every game for like the last 11 years.”
The relationship between James and first-year Cavs coach David Blatt has been scrutinized all season, and James’ play calling was viewed by some that he was running the team.
James said not allowing him to call plays would not “benefit our team.”