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Heat down Raptors, extend winning streak to 22 games

Mar 17, 2013 - 11:11 PM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers have had a longer winning streak than the Heat after Miami's 22nd consecutive victory on Sunday.

Ray Allen scored 16 of his 20 points in a one-sided fourth quarter that enabled Miami to fend off the Toronto Raptors, 108-91, and keep the streak alive.

The Heat tied the 2007-08 Houston Rockets for the second-longest streak in NBA history and can pass them on Monday, when they visit the Boston Celtics for another tough road outing.

Dwyane Wade had 24 points and nine assists and LeBron James filled the stat sheet with 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight helpers in the victory. Chris Bosh chipped in 18 points against his former team, which has lost 11 in a row against Miami.

"It's a special ride right now that we're on and I think the best thing about it is we're doing it together. We're doing it for one another and just want to try to keep it going," James said.

Rudy Gay scored 27 points to lead the Raptors, who were the first victim on the Heat's historic run back on Feb. 3.

Toronto gave the Air Canada Centre fans hope for an upset when DeMar DeRozan scored the final seven points of the third quarter to pull the hosts within 76-73.

Two Gay free throws tied things at 77-77 in the opening minute of the fourth, but the Heat quickly silenced the crowd with a game-sealing 28-4 run over the next seven minutes.

Allen hit four shots from 3-point range during the surge, and Shane Battier, who was a member of the 2007-08 Rockets, added another triple for a 105-81 advantage.

Toronto, which had won three of five coming in, was 1-of-13 during the run and outscored by a 32-18 margin in the fourth.

"They turn the heat up on you in a very costly way," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said.

The Heat scored eight of the last 10 points of the first quarter to take a 27-19 lead and connected on 10-of-15 shots (67 percent) in the second to stay in control.

James ended his 17-point half with a 3-pointer to give Miami a 55-43 advantage at the break.

Game Notes

After Monday, Miami's next four games are against the bottom four clubs in the Eastern Conference ... Miami has held its opponents to under 100 points in 10 straight games ... Amir Johnson totaled 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Raptors, who also got 18 points from Jonas Valanciunas ... The Raptors won the rebounding battle by a 51-26 margin, but made just 2-of-20 from 3-point range.