The Miami Heat won their 23rd consecutive game Monday night, giving them the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.
Miami beat the Boston Celtics, 105-103, in a closely fought game in Boston.
LeBron James knocked down a go-ahead jumper with 10.5 seconds left. The Celtics’ Paul Pierce missed a three on Boston’s final possession.
Miami had been tied with the 2007-08 Houston Rockets for the second-longest winning streak in NBA history coming into the game.
The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers hold the record for the longest winning streak ever, with 33 straight victories.
James scored 37 with 12 assists as the Heat won in Boston in the regular season for the first time in 11 tries despite a career-high 43 points from Jeff Green.
Bloomberg Names LeBron James the Most Powerful Athlete
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Pierce had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Celtics. They were without Kevin Garnett, who has the flu and a left thigh strain.
Mario Chalmers scored 21 points for Miami, which has not lost since Feb. 1. The Heat had not won in Boston since the New Big Three was formed — including the Celtics' double-overtime victory on Jan. 27, when Ray Allen returned with his new team.
That was the day Rajon Rondo was diagnosed with an ACL tear that ended his season. This time, it was Garnett who sat out, though coach Doc Rivers said he would have played if the thigh injury had not been compounded by the flu.
Boston led by as many as 17 in the first half, but it was 103-all when Miami got the ball with 33 seconds left. James dribbled down the shot clock before putting up a jumper from the right wing to take the lead.
Green drove into the lane for Boston, but he was stuffed by Shane Battier; the ball went out of bounds and, after replay, was given to the Celtics with 7.1 seconds remaining.
Courtney Lee found Pierce for an open 3-pointer, but it bounced long off the rim and Dwyane Wade, who scored 16, tipped the rebound to the corner and then grabbed it.
PHOTOS: Miami Heat Victory Parade
Boston had won its last 11 home games coming into Monday night – beginning with 100-98 double overtime win against Miami on Jan. 27.
The Rockets’ 22-game winning streak came to an end against Boston exactly five years ago, in 2008.
Notes: Green had 12 in the second quarter and 12 in the third. ... Battier was on the Houston Rockets team that won 22 straight before losing 94-74 to Boston on March 18, 2008. ... James was called for a technical foul for taunting when he stood over Jason Terry after a dunk. It was James' sixth technical of the season and the 39th of his career. ... Pierce and Chalmers got involved in a minor scuffle when Pierce drew an offensive foul and Chalmers tried to grab the ball from him after the whistle.
