The Miami Heat took its talents to Newark for Halloween and came away hogging all of the day’s treats, defeating the previously unbeaten New Jersey Nets 101-78.
The Heat (3-1) led by 16 at the half and by as many as 25 points in the third quarter, allowing them to put it in cruise control for the homestretch. Miami had six players in double-figures, led by LeBron James’ 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Chris Bosh scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Dwyane Wade posted 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Point guard Carlos Arroyo scored 12 points and Eddie House and Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.
Miami shot 54 percent from the field, compared to just 35 percent shooting by New Jersey. The Heat also committed just eight turnovers to the Nets’ 15 and attempted 11 more free throws.
The bright spot of the day for the Nets (2-1) was rookie Derrick Favors, who notched his first career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, 10 of which came on the offensive glass, in 24 minutes off the bench. For the third straight game, Brook Lopez led the Nets in scoring, recording 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Devin Harris added 13 points and six assists, while Terrence Williams chipped in 11 points but went just 5-for-14 from the field. Jordan Farmar made just two of his seven attempts from the floor and Travis Outlaw was held scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting.
The Nets will play the fourth and final game of their season-opening homestand against the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.
Notes: Farmar (ankle) and Williams (hand) played despite injuries that made them questionable for the afternoon’s contest … LeBron James shared changed feelings regarding “The Decision” with reporters in Newark. “If I had to go back on it, I probably would do it a little bit different,” James said. “But I’m happy with the decision I made. There’s always going to be a misunderstanding. I don’t know what I would [have done], but I definitely would have changed it.”