LOS ANGELES: The Miami Heat thrived on the NBA's Christmas Day stage in a convincing 96-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday, with LeBron James getting 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while hitting a season-high five 3-pointers. Chris Bosh had 24 points and 13 rebounds as the Heat won for the 14th time in 15 games while flustering the defending champions into a terrible offensive performance. Although both teams called this game a television curiosity rather than a potential NBA finals preview, it clearly meant something to James, who outplayed Kobe Bryant again in his second straight Christmas win at Staples Center. Bryant and Pau Gasol scored 17 points apiece for the Lakers. Magic 86, Celtics 78: In Orlando, the hosts ended yet another long winning run, beating Boston to snap the Celtics' 14-game streak. Having halted San Antonio's 10-game run in the previous game, the new-look Magic got into its stride in the second half after Boston had taken a 12-point lead. Brandon Bass scored 21 points and Hedo Turkoglu added 16 for the Magic, who took a measure of revenge for last season's defeat by Boston in the Eastern Conference finals. Kevin Garnett had 22 points for the Celtics in their first loss in over a month. Knicks 103, Bulls 95: In New York, the home team limited Chicago to just two baskets in the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, setting up a victory over the Bulls. Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton each scored 20 points for the Knicks, the NBA's highest-scoring team but 28th in defense. Stoudemire anchored the defensive effort, grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking six shots Carlos Boozer had 26 points and 19 rebounds for the Bulls. Thunder 114, Nuggets 106: In Oklahoma City, NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant had a season-high 44 points – 21 in the third quarter – for Oklahoma City in the win over Denver. In the Thunder's first Christmas game, Durant was 14 of 20 from the field and raised his scoring average to 28.1. James Harden added 21 points for the hosts. Warriors 109, Trail Blazers 102: In Oakland, Golden State scored 11 straight points to erase a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter and beat Portland in its first Christmas home game. Monta Ellis scored 39 points and David Lee added 21 points for the Warriors.
