Entering Wednesday, the Miami Heat boasted a 12-0 record when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined to score at least 71 percent of the team’s points. Against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Big Three combined for 84 of the team’s 105 points (80 percent), but it was not enough as the Heat fell and snapped their 13-game road win streak (tied for fourth-longest in NBA history).
Although the Big Three contributed 80 percent of the offense (their highest percentage in a loss), it was the Heat’s team defense that let them down. The Clippers scored 44 points in the first quarter, which is the most against the Heat in any quarter this season. Miami's 18-point deficit after one quarter (44-26) was the highest of the season. It was also just the fourth time this season that the Heat allowed an opponent to shoot at least 50 percent from the field. Oh and the 111 points allowed were the fourth-most in a single game by Miami this season.
Most Consecutive Road Games Won
Single Season in NBA History
The Clippers, on the other hand, have now won eight of the last 10 against the Heat at home. Blake Griffin extended his double-double streak to 24 consecutive games, one behind Kevin Love for longest this season. Griffin also notched his league-high 23rd game of 20 points and 10 rebounds. It was his 13th-straight 20-10 game and since the 1996-97 season, only Shaquille O'Neal has a longer streak (18).
Speaking of streaks, there were a few that were extended and a few more that ended Wednesday:
• Amar'e Stoudemire scored 22 points and extended his streak of games with at least 20 points to 23 straight (fifth longest streak in New York Knicks history).
• The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors and have won 12 straight meetings. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Lakers-Warriors rivalry dates back to 1948 when the teams were located in Minneapolis and Philadelphia, respectively. The Lakers' 12-game win streak matches the longest win streak for either team in the rivalry's history. The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Philadelphia Warriors 12 straight times from 1952 to 1954.
• The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets to snap an 11-game road losing streak and got its first win in Houston since February 2005, when the team was still based in Seattle.
• And finally, the Orlando Magic lost to the New Orleans Hornets and snapped its nine-game win streak (tied for the longest in team history).