Chris Bosh scores 35 points, leads Miami Heat to victory over Cavaliers

A win is a win, right? That's what the Miami Heat are probably telling themselves tonight after their ‘not so pretty' victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a game full of turnovers and missed shots, with neither team generating any real flow. Even though they lost, Cleveland did a very good job of taking away Miami's fast break, limiting them to just 4 points on the break, well below their season average of 18 per game.

The man of the night for the Heat was Chris Bosh. He was solid throughout the game, but really elevated his play in the 4^th quarter. Bosh made big shot after big shot, getting the Heat very important points on crucial possessions down the stretch. With the game on the line in the final minute, it was Bosh at the free throw line with a chance to put the game out of reach, and he did just that.

Bosh finished with a season-high 35 points, making 10-of-16 from the field and going a perfect 14-of-14 from the foul line. The game was close down the stretch and Bosh stepped up again and again for the Heat. Whether it was inside the paint, on the perimeter or at the charity stripe, Bosh did it all for Miami and for at least one night, ‘CB' was the Heat for the Heat.

Miami came into this game in need of a strong offensive showing but was unable to do so. They were fresh off a loss to Milwaukee in which they put up season lows in both points and field goal percentage, and also blundered away 22 turnovers. It seemed like the slump had followed the Heat into this game, as Miami put up a season-low 17 1^st quarter points which led to a season-low 37-point opening half.

GAME NOTES

• Miami drew 5 offensive fouls, and they were drawn by five different players (Battier, Jones, Miller, Anthony, Chalmers.)
• The Heat had no 1^st half offensive rebounds, finishing with
• 17 of Chris Bosh's 35 points came in the 4^th quarter.
• Miami made 23-of-26 from the foul line. Cleveland just 11-of-17.
• The Heat made their last 11 free throws, all of which came in the last 2 minutes of the game.
• A quiet 18-point game for LeBron James, who shot 8-of-21 from the field.
• Miami gave up a season-high 8 dunks to the Cavaliers.

The Heat will now jump on a plane and fly up to Detroit to complete another back-to-back set. Tipoff from Auburn Hills, Michigan is set for 7:30.