Heat cool off red-hot Rockets

MIAMI (AFP) –

LeBron James of the Miami Heat complains to the referee against the Brooklyn Nets on January 30, 2013. The Heat continued their domination over Houston by beating the Rockets 114-108 on Wednesday behind 32 points from James and Dwyane Wade’s 31 points and eight assists.

The Miami Heat continued their domination over Houston by beating the Rockets 114-108 behind 32 points from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s 31 points and eight assists.

Wade also had four steals for the defending NBA champion Heat, who have now won seven consecutive games over the Rockets.

Shane Battier finished with 12 points and Norris Cole scored 10 for the Heat who are 20-3 at home this year.

“We had to dig for this. We will take it,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The Rockets’ loss came one day after they blitzed Golden State for a record-tying 23 three-pointers in an eye-popping 140-109 victory.

James Harden finished with 36 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Houston, who haven’t won in Miami for over five years, losing four straight in that time.

The Rockets went just nine-of-25 from beyond the arc on Wednesday.

Omer Asik had a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, Patrick Patterson finished with 15 points and Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin added 13 points each.

Miami played without forward Chris Bosh who was out with the flu.

The Heat have won three in a row, four of five and eight of 10. Wednesday’s contest was third in a five-game homestand.

The Heat were coming off a hard-fought 99-94 victory at home over the Charlotte Bobcats.