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James scores 33 points, leads Heat over Thunder
NBA
spt ap Heat James
Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant during the first quarter of an NBA game on Thursday in Oklahoma City. - photo by The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — LeBron James scored 33 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with a bloody nose and the Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-81 on Thursday night.James went down with 5:50 remaining after he was struck by Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka on a drive to the basket. James finished the dunk, but was bloodied and left the court with a towel over his face.Dwyane Wade had 24 points and 10 assists and Chris Bosh added 24 points for Miami, which won its fourth straight and avenged an earlier loss to Oklahoma City.Kevin Durant scored 28 points for Oklahoma City. Russell Westbrook, who had missed the previous 27 games after having a surgery on his right knee, started and scored 16 points.Oklahoma City lost at home for the first time since Jan. 5.The Thunder overcame an early 18-point deficit on Jan. 29 to roll past the Heat 112-95 in Miami, and the home fans hoped for a regular-season sweep against the team that beat Oklahoma City in the 2012 NBA Finals.The crowd erupted as Westbrook was introduced as a starter.