Heat 109, Hornets 95
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade scored 22 points apiece as the Miami Heat shook off a slow start en route to their fifth straight win, a 109-95 blowout of the visiting New Orleans Hornets on Monday.
Wade and James took turns sparking Miami from its early malaise, helping the Heat erase a 12-point second-quarter deficit one night after a nationally televised victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Wade scored 15 points in the second quarter, including 13 in an 18-4 run to close the first half to put Miami ahead for good at 51-49.
The Heat scored the first nine points to open the second half and rode 14 third-quarter points from James to build the lead to 87-68 entering the fourth.
James also had a double-double for the second straight game, grabbing 11 rebounds to help Miami to a dominating 39-25 edge on the backboards. James added eight assists.
Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry scored 14 points apiece for the Hornets, who were crushed despite shooting 53.3 percent (40 of 75) from the floor.