Once again, LeBron James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers reach a milestone in the NBA standings.
First to 40 wins one year.
First to 40 losses the next.
Dwyane Wade scored 26 of his 34 points in the first half, James finished with 24 points and eight assists, and the Heat beat the Cavaliers for the third time since the two-time MVP changed cities, winning, 117-90, last night in Miami to hand Cleveland its 21st straight loss — as many as it dropped in the entire 2009-10 regular season.
Cleveland (8-40) is now two losses shy of tying the single-season NBA futility streak record shared by the 1995-96 Grizzlies and 1997-98 Nuggets. Overall, the Cavaliers have lost 31 of 32, along with 24 straight on the road.
“I have nothing bad to say about the players that I left and the team,’’ James said before the game. “I wish the organization the best. And I wish the fans, more than anything, the best because we had a lot of great years together.’’
This game had a few moments of hope for the Cavaliers. They were down by 19 in the first half before cutting the deficit to 70-67 in the third quarter.
Was this going to be the night? Not a chance.
James had 9 points in a 19-5 run to close the third quarter, Miami’s lead was 89-72 entering the fourth, and it turned into a romp from there.
Antawn Jamison finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers.
Nets 115, Nuggets 99 — Brook Lopez scored 27 points and Devin Harris had a career-high 18 assists as New Jersey gave Carmelo Anthony an indication why he might want to play for the Nets with a rout of Denver in Newark.
The game was the first between the teams since Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov told his team to halt extended trade talks with Denver for Anthony a little less than two weeks ago, saying the drawn-out negotiations were hurting his team.
The Nets (15-34) are 5-3 since the talks ended, but Anthony gave the fans who jeered and cheered him at different times a clear indication why he is so valued, scoring 37 points — 2 shy of his season high — to keep his team in the game.
Chauncey Billups had 17 of his 19 points in the second half for Denver.
Pacers 104, Raptors 93 — Roy Hibbert had 24 points and 11 rebounds to help host Indiana beat Toronto in Frank Vogel’s debut as interim coach.
The 37-year-old Vogel replaced Jim O’Brien, who was fired Sunday. Vogel said he would allow Hibbert to play through his mistakes, and the 7-foot-2-inch center rewarded his new coach with his highest-scoring game since Nov. 28.
Darren Collison and Paul George scored 16 points and Tyler Hansbrough added 14 as the Pacers extended Toronto’s losing streak to 12 games.
Amir Johnson led Toronto with 18 points, and Jose Calderon and Ed Davis added 13 apiece.