LeBron rescues Heat from near collapse

Toronto launched a 12-0 run in the fourth to trim a 15-point deficit to just 85-82 with three and a half minutes remaining,but James responded with two free throws and a dunk to put the Heat ahead. Dwyane Wade added 25 points in the win,Miami’s (18-6) seventh in eight games.

“We came into this game knowing we wouldn’t be able to take any shortcuts and it would be a work game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters.

“We would have to work the game for 48 minutes. We knew we would face a lot of defence. We will take this win and move on.”

DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 25 points while Jerryd Bayless and Linas Kleiza each added 17 for the visitors.

Toronto (8-17) appeared buried for good when they fell behind by 16 in the third but they made it interesting before slipping to their third loss in four games.

Bayless and Kleiza each hit three-pointers during the team’s fourth quarter run and the Raptors tried to stymie the Heat with a zone defense. Chris Bosh,who spent his first seven NBA seasons with the Raptors,had a quiet night with 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting.

Celtics get fourth straight win

Kevin Garnett matched his season-high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to their fourth straight win,98-80 over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

Paul Pierce scored 21 points,moving nine behind Hall of Famer Larry Bird for second place on the club’s all-time list,and Ray Allen added 12. Rajon Rondo had 14 assists and reserve Chris Wilcox chipped in with 12 points.

Rudy Gay paced the Grizzlies with 21 points and seven rebounds,and O.J. Mayo scored 15 points for Memphis,which has lost six of eight.

Boston took charge with a 21-7 run early in the fourth quarter that turned a six-point lead to 90-70 on Garnett’s jumper.

Relying on a combination of reserves and two of their usual stars,Garnett and Pierce,the Celtics controlled the glass and outran the Grizzlies for transition baskets.