• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Heat go for 10th straight win versus Bobcats

Dec 1, 2013 - 3:03 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat are riding the longest current winning streak in the NBA at nine games and will try to keep it going when they return home to face the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Heat won both of its recent road games in Cleveland and Toronto, and recorded a 90-83 triumph over the Raptors Friday at Air Canada Centre, where LeBron James collected 27 points, six rebounds and three assists. Dwyane Wade was the only other Heat player in double digits, finishing with 22 points.

"We got to have these type of games throughout the course of the season," James said of the game. "The games that will challenge you and tonight was a great example of how together we are. We've been in this situation and were able to handle it."

James has scored in double-figures in 511 consecutive games.

Ray Allen and Michael Beasley scored seven points apiece for the 13-3 Heat, who scored 26 points off 21 Toronto turnovers and led by as many as 20 midway through the third quarter.

The Raptors got no closer than four points with about five minutes to go.

Miami will also welcome Detroit to town and is 8-1 at AmericanAirlines Arena, where it has ripped off five straight victories.

Charlotte ended a two-game slide with Friday's 92-76 win over the Milwaukee Bucks to close out a three-game homestand.

Al Jefferson had 23 points and 12 rebounds -- both season highs --, Gerald Henderson netted 19 points and Ramon Sessions added 11 points off the bench.

"Every game, I'm getting better and better with the way I feel and the way I'm playing. Milwaukee is a heck of a team, they've got great shooters and they were hanging around in the fourth (quarter)," said Jefferson. "I did want to take it upon myself to go on and seal the game and walk away with the win, and I got hot."

Jefferson is averaging 18.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in his last four games.

The Bobcats, who pulled down a season-high 54 rebounds, got 10 points, but six turnovers from Kemba Walker, while Bismack Biyombo chipped in seven points and 14 rebounds. Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (foot) is probable for Sunday and averaging 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Charlotte hopes to slow down James and the Heat, and is allowing 91.4 points per game, which is one of the lowest in the NBA. Last season the Bobcats permitted 102.7 ppg.

The Bobcats are 4-3 on the road this season, leaving them two wins shy of last season's total of six road wins, and dropped a 97-81 home decision to the Heat on Nov. 16. Miami has won 13 in a row and 26 of the 36 matchups with Charlotte, which has lost seven straight and 15 of the 18 all-time meetings in south Florida.

The Bobcats will visit Dallas on Tuesday.