Heat, Thunder zoom to 3-0 playoff leads

New York — Miami’s LeBron James scored 32 points, including eight straight to start the fourth quarter and break open the game, as the Heat beat the New York Knicks 87-70 on Thursday to take a 3-0 lead in their NBA first-round playoff series.

The Knicks’ loss set a new and unwelcome postseason record of 13 straight playoff defeats.

James had 17 points in the final period for the Heat, who held the undermanned Knicks to eight field goals in the second half and will go for the series sweep on Sunday.

Dwyane Wade added 20 points for the Heat and Mario Chalmers had 19, hitting consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter when the Heat finally brought some beauty to what had been an ugly game.

Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points but shot only 7-of-23 for the Knicks, who are playing without Amare Stoudemire, Jeremy Lin and Iman Shumpert and needed a super effort from Anthony that he didn’t come close to providing.

The Knicks playoff losing skid broke the record set by Memphis from 2004-06. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2001.

In a sloppy game between two star-studded teams, Miami went 10 minutes without a field goal in the second half, followed by the Knicks managing just three baskets in the third quarter.

Then James took over.

He came off the bench to start the fourth after sitting most of the third in foul trouble, quickly providing the best offensive stretch in the game. He nailed a 3-pointer, followed his own miss, then hit again from behind the arc, turning the Heat’s two-point lead into a 66-56 cushion with 10:36 remaining.

The Heat then put it away midway through the period, when Wade made a jumper before Chalmers hit twice in a row from behind the arc to make it 77-62 with 5:40 to play.

Lin is practicing again after knee surgery but is not ready to return.

Chris Bosh had nine points and 10 rebounds hours after the birth of his first child. He flew in on the afternoon of the game and only arrived at the arena 30 minutes before the tipoff.

Thunder 95,

Mavs 79

In Dallas, Oklahoma City never trailed on the way to a victory over Dallas that delivered a commanding 3-0 series lead over the defending NBA champs.

After two close games on their home court, the young Thunder ran away with Game 3.

They will run away with the first-round series with one more win. Game 4 is Saturday in Dallas.

Kevin Durant finished with 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting. /ap