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LeBron went off on Monday night, hitting 16 of 21 attempts from the floor to lead the Heat against a Bucks team that had beaten Miami twice previously this season.
The Miami Heat finally broke through against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at the Bradley Center. The Heat cruised to an 18-point win over the Bucks, paced by the offensive excellence of LeBron James. The All-Star James missed only five of 21 shots from the field, as he consistently got to the rim for high-percentage shots.
Perhaps none was more high-percentage than an absolutely monstrous one-handed dunk as the third quarter came to a close. James split the defense and went right down the middle of the lane for one of the loudest dunks you'll ever hear. James threw it down with an instantaneous thud.
Video of the audibly emphatic dunk after the jump:
After dropping their first two contests against the Bucks this season, the Miami Heat finally defeated Milwaukee on Monday night, cruising to a 114-96 win at the Bradley Center. LeBron James was on fire for the Heat, missing only five of 21 attempts from the floor 31 minutes. James finished with 35 points and eight rebounds.
Dwyane Wade had a huge first half and supported James with 22 points of his own. Mario Chalmers was the only other Miami starter in double figures as the Heat shot better than 53 percent from the field to extend their lead in each of the last three quarters. A huge 35-point third quarter let Miami coast in the final 12 minutes to finally get a win against a pesky Milwaukee team.
Miami now stays in the Central Division and travels to Indiana tomorrow to face an up-and-coming Pacers squad on the third night of a back-to-back-to-back.
For more on the Miami Heat, visit SB Nation's Heat blog Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit SB Nation's Bucks blog Brew Hoop. Don't forget to also stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA basketball hub.
The Miami Heat are looking to get their first win of the season against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. The Bucks have beaten the Heat in their first two matchups this season, and are responsible for one of Miami's two home losses this year. After one half, the Heat lead 55-50 on the dynamic play of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
James and Wade are a combined 13 of 19 from the floor so far. Wade has a game-high 16 points while LeBron is right there behind him with 15 points. Mike Miller had the hot hand off the bench, hitting three of four attempts from behind the arc and adding nine points against Scott Skiles's defense.
Carlos Delfino is the only Buck in double figures, hitting three three-pointers and finishing the half with 13 points. The Heat will have to continue the pace on the offensive end if they want to get their first win of the season against this pesky Bucks team.
For more on the Miami Heat, visit SB Nation's Heat blog Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit SB Nation's Bucks blog Brew Hoop. Don't forget to also stay tuned to SB Nation's NBA basketball hub.
Injuries:
Backup center Dexter Pittman left the game last night with an injured right shoulder.
Starting center Andrew Bogut is still out until the middle of March with a left ankle fracture.
Starting Lineups: (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)
Heat:
Point guard - Mario Chalmers (11.1, 2.6, 3.7, 1.3, 0.2)
Shooting guard - Dwyane Wade (22.2, 4.1, 4.9, 1.8, 1.4)
Small forward - LeBron James (27.9, 8.2, 6.9, 1.7, 0.7)
Power forward - Chris Bosh (19.2, 8.2, 2.0, 0.9, 0.8)
Center - Joel Anthony (3.3, 4.3, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0)
Key off the bench: Udonis Haslem seems to have recovered from his cracked rib. Bet the over on nine rebounds tonight.
Bucks:
Point guard - Brandon Jennings (18.6, 3.4, 5.4, 1.6, 0.3)
Shooting guard - Shaun Livingston (7.6, 2.3, 2.2, 0.7, 0.4)
Small forward - Carlos Delfino (8.8, 3.6, 2.0, 1.3, 0.3)
Power forward - Luc Mbah a Moute (6.2, 4.4, 0.5, 0.8, 0.7)
Center - Drew Gooden (12.8, 6.2, 1.8, 0.6, 0.5)
Key off the bench: Ersan Ilyasova has averaged 10.8 rebounds over his last six games.
Miami has won 53 and lost 33 all-time matchups with the Bucks, but have already lost the series this season. The Heat sit comfortably in the two seed while the Bucks are in the nine slot, looking up at the New York Knicks, a half game behind. After a home loss and an away loss at Milwaukee, all Miami has left is to salvage this one.
Common Thread:
Bucks guard Shaun Livingston played four games for the Heat in 2008-09. In 41 minutes total he scored nine points and dished out four assists.
Team Milestones:
With three more 3-pointers, James Jones will move past James Posey into 13th on the all-time list, with 215.
10 more free throws for Chris Bosh will move him past Sherman Douglas into 18th all-time, with 514.
14 rebounds for Joel Anthony will move him into the franchise top 20, passing Michael Beasley with 938.
With six points tonight, Chris Bosh will move into 24th all time, passing Jason Williams with 1,981.
41 points in tonight’s game will move LeBron James past Steve Smith into 13th all-time, with 2,906.
Team Leaders:
PPG:
LeBron James – 27.9
Dwyane Wade – 22.2
Chris Bosh – 19.2
RPG:
Udonis Haslem – 8.3
Chris Bosh, LeBron James – 8.2
APG:
LeBron James – 6.9
Dwyane Wade – 4.9
Mario Chalmers – 3.7
SPG:
Dwyane Wade – 1.8
LeBron James – 1.7
Mario Chalmers – 1.3
BPG:
Dwyane Wade – 1.4
Joel Anthony – 1.0
Chris Bosh – 0.8
Tonight, the Miami Heat visit the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. This is the final of three contests to be played between the two this season, and the second of two in Wisconsin. Miami is playing in the fourth game of a six game road trip. They lost their first game, 102-89 to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday before beating the Washington Wizards 106-89 on Friday and the Atlanta Hawks, 107-87 last night. They go on to face the Indiana Pacers tomorrow before finishing up against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Milwaukee is in the second game of a three game homestand. They are coming off a 99-94 home loss to the Orlando Magic and will host the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday before heading down to Orlando on Friday. Milwaukee has a 7-5 home record, while the Heat carry in an 9-5 road record.
The teams last met on February 1st in Milwaukee, as the Bucks handed the Heat a 105-97 loss. Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 31 points and eight assists. Drew Gooden pitched in with 17 points and nine boards, while Erson Ilyasova grabbed 14 rebounds in the victory. LeBron James scored 40 points with eight rebounds and five assists in the losing effort, while Dwyane Wade contributed 23 points with eight rebounds and six assists. Erik Spoelstra spoke to media after the game regarding the Heat using too much man-to-man coverage in the fourth quarter. According to NBA.COM:
"You always have to find a balance with that. We're trying to find a balance where we can take advantage of our guys' strengths of ability to attack and ability to break down the defense. At the same time, we have to do it collectively, and the ball has to move."
NBA CIRCLE - Miami Heat Vs Milwaukee Bucks Highlights Feb 01, 2012 Game Recap.flv (via NBACIRCLE)
Miami beat the Atlanta Hawks on the road last night, 107-87. LeBron James led Miami with 23 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Dwyane Wade scored 21, and Chris Bosh scored 14 points and 16 rebounds, a season high. Willie Green paced Atlanta with 17 points on the night, while Joe Johnson was the only other Hawk in double figures, with 12. James spoke about the Heat's first game of their back-to-back-to-back, according to NBA.COM,
"We couldn't have scripted a better start [to the three-games-in-three-days run]. We played Miami Heat basketball . . . we were able to get stops defensively, and transition translates into offense . . . I wanted to rebound tonight because it enables me to push the tempo."
Miami Heat Vs Atlanta Hawks 2-12-12 Highlights (via nbahighlights9999)
The Orlando Magic beat the Bucks in Milwaukee, 99-94 on Saturday. Jason Richardson led the Magic with 31 points, going 9-for-11 from three-point range. Dwight Howard scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu pitched in with 19 points and six assists. The Bucks were led by 21 from Drew Gooden, while Erson Ilyasova scored 17 with 16 rebounds in the losing effort. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, on Richardson's long range prowess, according to NBA.COM,
"At the end he was just knocking down shots. But as almost always happens when guys go on those runs, he got a couple open ones that get them going. And then you're just feeling it."
NBA CIRCLE - Orlando Magic Vs Milwaukee Bucks Highlights Feb 11, 2012 Game Recap (via NBACIRCLE)
Standings:
Miami Heat: 21-7, first in the Southeast Division, second in the Eastern Conference, third in the NBA. on pace for a 50-16 record. Last five games: W-W-L-W-W
Milwaukee Bucks: 12-15, third in the Central Division, ninth in the Eastern Conference, tied for 20th in the NBA, on pace for a 29-37 record. Last five games: L-L-W-W-L
Season Series: Bucks, 2-0
All-Time Series: Miami, 53-33
Gametime: 8:00 ET
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Video: Chris Bosh Summarizes Heat Victory
After the Miami Heat's Monday night victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, Chris Bosh summarized the victory consummately:
LEBRON POSTGAME INTERVIEW AND BOSH CLOWNING *LOL* HD VS BUCKS 2/13/12 (via HEATPOSTERIZED)
Feb 14 12:03a by William Mueller