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James helps Heat hammer Sixers

Apr 7, 2013 - 4:58 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - LeBron James returned to lineup for Miami and scored an efficient 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and the Heat dominated Philadelphia in the fourth quarter to take a 106-87 win on Saturday at American Airlines Arena.

Five others scored in double-figures for the Heat, who became the first team this season to reach 60 wins. Rashard Lewis had 14 points, Norris Cole scored 13 and Ray Allen had 11 after missing Friday's game against Charlotte with a sprained ankle.

Dwyane Wade missed his fourth straight contest with injured leg and Chris Bosh sat with a sore knee for Miami.

Jrue Holiday score 18 for the Sixers, who had won five of seven coming in. Spencer Hawes added 11 points with 11 rebounds and Evan Turner scored 14 in the defeat.

"The know how to close games," said Sixers forward Dorrell Wright, who scored 10. "Not to take anything from us, I think the effort was there, we played hard. I think we just missed a lot of shots that we normally make."

Philadelphia stayed close most of the contest and trailed by just one point after three quarters, but Miami proved to be too much in the fourth.

The Heat put together a 15-6 run over the first six minutes of final frame, with Lewis and Allen each canning a pair of triples during the stretch to push the lead to double-digits.

Philadelphia went 6 1/2 minutes without a field goal, and by the time Holiday finally got one to fall with 3:25 left, it was too late.

James then finished the 76ers off after taking the ball from Holiday and throwing down a fast break jam for a 101-85 advantage to all but seal the victory. Miami outscored Philadelphia 29-11 in the frame.

"In the second half, for better or worse, we just played more aggressively," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

James had missed the last three games with a tight hamstring, but showed no ill effects. He scored nine points during a first quarter 12-0 push, with his shot off the glass putting Miami ahead 22-13.

The first quarter ended with the Sixers trailing by 15, but they reduced the margin to two just past the midway point of second and tied the score at 42-42 with 2:32 left in the quarter.

The Heat didn't surrender the lead, though, as Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers went back-to-back from long distance to give Miami a six-point edge and it carried a 50-46 lead into the break.

The Sixers tied the score at 52-52 early in the third on Damien Wilkins' three-point play, but Udonis Haslem twice mirrored the trick and his second put Miami back in front by four.

Miami was unable to create separation larger than six points, though, as Holiday scored 11 and made all three of his 3-pointers in the period to keep Philadelphia close, and they trailed 77-76 after a pair of Lavoy Allen free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Game Notes

The Heat have won the last 15 regular season meetings with the 76ers ... Miami's Mike Miller scored only three points on Saturday after tallying a season-best 26 on Friday ... The Heat were 14-for-25 from 3-point range ... Philadelphia fell to 9-28 on the road and haven't beaten Miami during the regular season since March 15, 2009.