The NBA champion Miami Heat staged a thrilling fightback to keep their unblemished home record alive, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-108 on Saturday.
The Heat, down by 11 at halftime and by seven with just under two minutes remaining, stormed home thanks mainly to Ray Allen who scored the last seven points to push the Heat to 10-3 on the season and 6-0 in Miami.
Allen coaxed in a lay up and drew a foul with 1:32 remaining for a three-point play and then gave the Heat the lead with 18 seconds left with a three-pointer.
Cavaliers guard Jeremy Pargo had a chance to send the game to overtime butDwyane Wade blocked his late shot.
LeBron James top scored for the Heat against his former team with 30 points while Chris Bosh added 23 and Wade 18.
The Cavaliers had eight players in double figures, led by Pargo and Dion Waiters with 16 each, but the impressive team performance still was not enough, dropping them to 3-10.
"First of all, Cleveland played a very good basketball game," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters.
"They did enough to put themselves in position to win but our guys absolutely relish those moments in the fourth quarter, the competitiveness of a close game.
"We need to get out of here quick as we can before they put more seconds on the clock."
© Thomson Reuters.
