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Magic wilt as Heat roll

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) drives up against Miami Heat center Joel Anthony during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, in Miami.

Wilfredo Lee / The Associated Press

Published: Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7:51 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7:51 a.m.

MIAMI – Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, LeBron James had 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and the NBA-leading Miami Heat beat the Orlando Magic 90-78 on Sunday for their sixth consecutive victory.

With former President Bill Clinton sitting courtside next to Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, Udonis Haslem scored 10 for the Heat, who improved to 25-7, a half-game better than Chicago for the best record in the NBA and the Eastern Conference. The 12-point final margin Sunday was Miami’s smallest during its current winning streak.

Wade made 13 of 23 shots from the floor, shooting 50 percent or better for the 10th straight game.

J.J. Redick, who was a late addition to the Orlando starting lineup after Jason Richardson was scratched with chest pain, scored 17 points. Dwight Howard finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds and Glen Davis – back in the Magic lineup after a one-game absence to attend his father’s funeral – scored 12.

Quentin Richardson added 10 for Orlando, which made 11 shots from 3-point range. The Magic had been 12-1 when connecting on at least that many this season.

Clinton stayed until the end, even posing for a quick photo with game officials Bill Kennedy, Mark Lindsay and Rodney Mott shortly after the final buzzer.

The six-game winning streak is a season best for Miami. Orlando lost for just the third time in its last 11 games.

Fueled by Wade scoring 12 points in the first seven minutes, Miami ran out to a 22-11 lead, the second straight game where the Magic faced a double-digit deficit in the opening quarter.

Just as they did two days earlier against Milwaukee, Orlando rallied. The Magic scored the next 13 points and took a 27-24 lead.

Orlando then went more than seven minutes without a point, and wound up missing 11 straight shots and 14 of 15 in one stretch.

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