CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 25 points as the Miami Heat overcame a 27-point deficit in the third quarter and won their 24th straight game, 98-95 over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night to extend the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.
The Heat are within nine games of matching the record of 33 consecutive wins held by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
James and his teammates have insisted the record isn't one of their goals, and for more than 30 minutes the defending champions seemed disinterested and on the verge of losing for the first time since Feb. 1. Miami trailed 67-40 with 7:44 left in the third quarter.
But behind the irrepressible James, who added 12 rebounds and 10 assists, the Heat inched closer to history by matching the biggest comeback in the NBA this season, according to STATS (see full recap).
Knicks top Magic in Anthony's return
NEW YORK -- Mike Woodson got the answer he was looking for just 22 seconds into the game.
That's how long it took Carmelo Anthony to show he was back, pulling up comfortably for a 3-pointer on New York's first possession.
"Big-time relief," the Knicks coach said. "I mean, lets me know that Melo's being Melo."
And the Knicks looked like the Knicks from earlier in the season, before Anthony's struggles halted their momentum.
Anthony scored 21 points after missing the previous three games with a knee injury, and the Knicks beat the Orlando Magic 106-94 on Wednesday night (see full recap).
Hornets win on Davis' last second tip-in
Anthony Davis' tip-in with 0.3 seconds remaining gave the New Orleans Hornets the 87-86 victory over the Celtics Wednesday.
Paul Pierce led all scorers with 28 points, going 2 for 3 from three-point range. Kevin Garnett added 20 points and six rebounds.
For the Hornets and No. 1 overall pick Davis, the win snapped a four-game losing streak.
In addition to his nine points, Davis also added eight rebounds and two blocks.
The Celtics will look to bounce back when they travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks Friday (see full recap).
Grizzlies top Thunder in overtime
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Marc Gasol tipped in Zach Randolph's miss with less than a second left in overtime to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 90-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
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In a game that had all the intensity of a playoff matchup, Jerryd Bayless connected from the top of the key for Memphis with 3.7 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. Bayless had 10 points in the fourth quarter.
After Gasol's tip over Kevin Durant put the Grizzlies ahead, Russell Westbrook's desperation shot from past halfcourt was off the mark and Memphis walked away with its 16th victory in 19 games.
Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 24 points and Bayless had 20. Zach Randolph added 15 points and 18 rebounds, while Gasol had 14 points and 15 rebounds (see full recap).
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