MIAMI (AP) — Down by seven points with less than 2 minutes left, LeBron James' current team was in big trouble against his former team — that is, until the Miami Heat saved their very best for the very end.
James found Ray Allen for the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.2 seconds left, highlighting a nine-point run to end the game and lift the Heat to a 110-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night at the AmericanAirlines Arena.
Miami held the lead for just 2 minutes, 29 seconds. Cleveland led 108-101 with 1:58 remaining, before the reigning NBA champions found a way to stay perfect at home.
James finished with 30 points, Chris Bosh scored 23 points, Dwyane Wade added 18 and Allen finished with 17 — 15 coming in the fourth quarter. Shane Battier came out of the game in the third quarter with a sprained right knee.
After Allen's 3-pointer, Cleveland had a good look at the lead but Wade blocked Pargo's jumper with 3 seconds left.
Cleveland controlled virtually the entire game and led by eight midway through the fourth. Then James and Allen made consecutive 3-pointers to start a Heat flurry and a free throw by Wade with 3:09 left tied the game at 101-all.
The biggest 3 of the night was the one that Allen hit late, after he and James — who also teamed up on what became an Allen four-point play to lift Miami over Denver earlier this month — were in synch again.
“I'm able to be the Tom Brady of the play all the time,” James said. “For some reason, it ends up in my hand and I find Ray. Big-time shot.”
Allen said he's not surprised that he and James are already clicking.“He's a great passer,” Allen said. “He attacks throughout the whole game. Me, what I've been doing, I'm just trying to read him.” The Heat will take on the San Antonio Spurs at 8 p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 29.
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