NBA-SCHEDULE
Heat ruin LeBron’s return…Thunder top Spurs…Bulls hammer Kobe-less Lakers…Wizards dump hapless Knicks
UNDATED (AP) β LeBron James was well received as he made his return to Miami on Christmas Day. He was given a loud but mixed ovation during pregame introductions, but it was all cheers after the Heat unveiled a tribute video for their former star. The video was a minute-long series of clips commemorating his four NBA Finals runs and two titles in Miami, after which he waved to the crowd and got a lengthy standing ovation.
But his former teammates spoiled James’ return to South Beach as Dwyane (dwayn) Wade scored 24 of his 31 points in the first half of Miami’s 101-91 win over the Cavs. Luol Deng (LOO’-ul dehng) finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Heat, who blew a 17-point lead and trailed early in the fourth quarter before handing the Cavaliers their fourth loss in 16 games since a 5-7 start.
James scored a game-high 30 in his first game at Miami since he left the Heat to return to the Cavaliers.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
β The Warriors have consecutive losses for just the second time this season. Jamal Crawford hit four 3-pointers and finished with 24 points and seven rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers past Golden State 100-86. Blake Griffin finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Deandre Jordan had 14 points and 12 boards for the Clippers. Klay Thompson led the Warriors with just 15 points on 6 of 18 shooting.
β Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka (ih-BAH’-kah) led Oklahoma City to a 114-106 win over the Spurs in San Antonio. Westbrook had a game-high 34 points and led the Thunder with 11 assists, while Ibaka added 21 points and nine boards. Steven Adams added 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in the Thunder’s sixth consecutive regular-season win over the Spurs.
β Chicago cruised to a 113-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers as Pau Gasol (pow gah-SAHL’) had 23 points and 13 rebounds against his old team. Jimmy Butler finished with 21 points and Derrick Rose added 20 points in the Bulls’ fifth consecutive win. The Lakers played their second straight game without Kobe Bryant, who says his knees, Achilles tendons, feet and back are all sore.
β Washington handed the New York Knicks their 16th loss in 17 games as John Wall’s 24 points and 11 assists led the Wizards to a 102-91 triumph at Madison Square Garden. Bradley Beal chipped in 17 points to help the Wizards end a two-game skid and improve to 20-8. The Knicks fell to 5-26 despite Carmelo Anthony’s game-high 34 points.
NBA-ALL-STAR VOTING
James, Curry lead vote
NEW YORK (AP) β Cleveland’s LeBron James and Stephen (STEH’-fehn) Curry of Golden State are the leading vote-getters in the first returns from NBA All-Star fan voting.
James has about 553,000 votes at the Eastern Conference frontcourt spot, where New York’s Carmelo Anthony ranks second and Chicago’s Pau Gasol (POW gah-SAHL’) is third. Washington’s John Wall tops East guards, and No. 2 is James’ former Miami teammate, Dwyane (dwayn) Wade.
Curry has more than 549,000 votes to lead second-place Kobe Bryant among West guards. New Orleans’ Anthony Davis has the most votes in the West frontcourt, followed by the Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Memphis center Marc Gasol (gah-SAHL’).
Voting runs through Jan. 19, and starters for the Feb. 15 game in New York will be announced Jan. 22.
T25-SCHEDULE
Colonials shock Shockers in Honolulu
HONOLULU (AP) β George Washington has won an in-season tournament for the first time in 10 years.
Kethan Savage sparked a late rally and scored 12 points to lead the unranked Colonials to a 60-54 upset over No. 11 Wichita State in the Diamond Head Classic title game at Honolulu. George Washington trailed by seven with seven minutes left before Savage swatted away a pass and turned it into a layup.
The 10-2 Shockers shot 34 percent from the floor and hit just one field goal over the last six minutes.
NFL-CARDINALS/QUARTERBACKS
Cards still not set at QB for Niners
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) β Will it be Logan Thomas or Ryan Lindley under center when the Arizona Cardinals visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday?
The Cardinals practiced on Thursday amid media reports that coach Bruce Arians has changed his mind and decided to start Lindley at quarterback. Arians had said that Thomas would get his first NFL start against the 49ers but apparently didn’t like what he saw in Wednesday’s practice. Lindley worked with the No. 1 unit in the brief portion of Thursday’s practice.
Arians didn’t speak to the media on Thursday, and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin would only say, “I guess we’ll see on Sunday.”
BOWLS-SCHEDULE
Off day for bowls
UNDATED (AP) β The Bowl barrage took a break for Christmas but resumes Friday with three games on the schedule.
In the Heart of Dallas Bowl 8-4 Louisiana Tech meets 6-6 Illinois. Rutgers takes a 7-5 mark into the Quick Lane Bowl against 6-6 North Carolina. The St. Petersburg Bowl matches 9-3 Central Florida against North Carolina State, which is 7-5
