Heat beat Pacers for 18th straight NBA win

MIAMI (AFP) –

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (R) of the Miami Heat are pictured during a game at AmericanAirlines Arena on March 6, 2013. The Miami Heat extended their franchise-best winning streak to 18 games by beating Indiana 105-91.

The Miami Heat extended their franchise-best winning streak to 18 games by beating mistake-prone Indiana 105-91, avenging two one-sided losses to the Pacers earlier this season.

Dwyane Wade had 23 points and a half dozen steals and Chris Bosh shot 11-of-15 from the field and finished with 24 points Sunday for the Heat, who lost by double-digits in both previous contests to Indiana this season.

Miami’s 18-game winning streak ties the sixth-longest run in National Basketball Association history and they can match the 2008 Boston Celtics‘ 19-game win streak with a victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

Mario Chalmers had a game high 26 points and nailed five-of-six three pointers and LeBron James added 13 points and seven assists in the win.

David West scored a team-high 24 points for the Pacers, who committed 18 turnovers.

Paul George struggled, shooting just two-of-11 from the field for Indiana, which were the last team to defeat the Heat back in the beginning of February.

Chalmers made it 15-14 by sinking three free throws in the opening quarter to give the Heat a lead they would keep for the rest of the contest.

Miami finished the half on a 10-2 run to lead 56-46 going into the break.

Indiana closed out the third quarter on a 9-0 run of its own to make it 79-65 going into the fourth.

But then Miami found their scoring touch again in the fourth as the Heat cruised to its 14th win in a row at home.