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James sets record as Heat top Blazers

Feb 13, 2013 - 5:11 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - LeBron James has taken the idea of "being hot" to another level.

On Tuesday, James became the first player in NBA history to score at least 30 points and shoot at least 60 percent in six straight games, as the Miami Heat downed the Portland Trail Blazers, 117-104, at American Airlines Arena.

"With how many great and dominate players that have come through over the years and paved the way for me, to be able to have this streak, and to be able to have won each game while also being efficient from the floor means a lot," James said.

James finished with 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting (73.3 percent), while also dishing out nine assists.

Chris Bosh scored 32 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Dwyane Wade finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, winners in six straight.

Damian Lillard poured in a game-high 33 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 29 for the Blazers, who have dropped four straight.

Wesley Matthews had 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting in the setback.

"I thought it was a good effort by our team. The Miami Heat are one of the best, if not the best team in the league right now," said Portland head coach Terry Stotts. "They are playing at a high level. We matched it for about 44 minutes. It was disappointing to come up with a loss but we lost to a good team."

The Heat led, 86-82, entering the fourth quarter, but a 13-4 surge gave Portland a 95-90 lead with 8:16 left.

Wade, who scored 12 of his 24 points over the final 12 minutes, sparked a 9-2 run to put the heat up 99-97 with just over 5 1/2 minutes to go.

Aldridge buried a pair of free throws to tie the game 19 seconds later, but a ferocious James dunk ignited a 16-3 run to put the Heat ahead, 115-102, with 1:55 left and Portland couldn't get closer than 11 the rest of the way.

Portland raced out to a 33-29 lead after the first quarter.

The Blazers led, 57-43, with 4:44 left in the first half, but the Heat outscored Portland, 15-2, to go into the break trailing 59-58.

Miami carried its momentum into the third period, using a 23-8 surge to go up 81-67. The Blazers, though, closed the frame with a 15-5 run to cut the lead to 86-82 entering the final stanza.

Game Notes

Miami outscored Portland, 46-38, in the paint ... The Heat scored 24 points off of 15 Blazers' turnovers ... The Heat shot 58.1 percent (43-for-74) from the floor ... The Blazers went 39-for-73 (53.4 percent) from the floor and 18- for-20 from the free throw line.