LeBron ends record run, Heat beats Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY: LeBron James powered the Miami Heat to a 110-100 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, but fell just short of extending a record-breaking scoring run.
James finished with 39 points and shot 58 percent from the field in a rematch of last year’s NBA finals which the Heat won in five games.
In Miami’s six previous wins, James did what no NBA player had ever achieved — scoring at least 30 points each game while shooting at least 60 percent from the field.
“All good things have to come to an end at some point,” James said. “It was a good run but we got the win tonight and that is the most important thing.” The reigning playoff MVP was his usual dominant self Thursday at Chesapeake Energy Arena as he grabbed 12 rebounds and had seven assists, leading the Heat to their seventh consecutive win.
He appeared to be heading for his seventh straight 30-60 game but failed to connect on a three-point shot in the fourth quarter and had to settle for 14-of-24 shooting from the field.
Chris Bosh finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Dwyane Wade had 13 points and eight assists for the Heat, who have won seven straight and 12 of their last 14.
James, Wade and Bosh will represent Miami in the 62nd All-Star Game on Sunday in Houston.
Thursday’s contest was the first of a four-game road trip for Miami and the last game before the all-star break.
Kevin Durant had 40 points on 12-of-24 shooting, while Russell Westbrook finished with 26 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for the Thunder, who had their seven-game win streak at home snapped Thursday.
At one point, Durant fell to the floor and landed with a heavy thud. He struggled early in the game and didn’t make his first field goal until just over four minutes left in the second quarter.
James said double teaming Durant on defense was one of the keys to the win.
“You can’t guard him one-on-one,” James said. “You have got to have help behind you. Defensively we were able to pick up a couple of charges on him.” It marked just the fourth loss at home for Oklahoma City to go with 23 wins.
The Thunder were eliminated by the Heat in the playoffs and lost the first regular season rematch, 103-97, on Christmas Day in Florida.
Durant and Westbrook will represent the Thunder in the all-star showdown.
Clippers 125, Lakers 101: At Los Angeles, Chris Paul had 24 points and 13 assists, Blake Griffin scored 18 of his 22 points in a spectacular first quarter and the Clippers cemented their supremacy in Los Angeles with an easy victory over the Lakers.
Chauncey Billups hit five 3-pointers while scoring 21 points for the Clippers, who roared into the All-Star break by clinching the season series in their city rivalry for the first time in 20 years.
The Clippers have won the Staples Center co-tenants’ first three games of the season, with Los Angeles’ longtime underdogs burying the 16-time champions in this latest meeting under a wave of 16 3-pointers.
Kobe Bryant had 20 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, who head to the break in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Caron Butler had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers, who lead Golden State by seven games atop the Pacific Division standings after their fourth straight victory.
The Lakers had won eight of 11 overall heading into this meeting, but the Clippers scored the first 15 points and never trailed.