Portland Beats Collapsing Heat, 105-96
MIAMI (CBS4) - The Miami Heat looked like an also-ran again Tuesday night when they were beaten at home by the Portland Trail Blazers, 105-96.
For the Heat, it was their fifth loss in their last six games and will do nothing to help quell the outcries over how the once-vaunted Heat has fallen on hard times as the playoffs continue to draw near.
Once again, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade carried the Heat by scoring over 30 points each. The 69 combined points for James and Wade was the high point for the Heat, who had only one other player, Mario Chalmers, in double figures.
Chris Bosh, who was once considered to be the final part of the Big Three continues making the Heat's one-time vaunted trio look more like two and a half men. Bosh was 3-11 in 40 minutes and only pulled down 4 rebounds during the game.
Bosh was outrebounded by Wade and James, who had 11 and 6 respectively. LeBron finished just two assists shy of a triple double.
But one of the biggest problems for the Heat was the defense. Multiple times throughout the game, the Trail Blazers had no problem moving the ball and had the Heat chasing them instead of being in front of the ball.
Portland also showed just how bad Miami's bench continues to be this season. The Trail Blazers outscored the Heat's bench, 41-8.
Another problem for the Heat was second-chance points. The Heat gave up 12 offensive rebounds in the game and many times, that was followed by quick points for Portland.
Add in the fact the Heat shot 32 percent from behind the arc, compared to Portland's 41 percent, and the Heat once again proved they are at least a year away from seriously competing.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points and Gerald Wallace added 22 to help power the Trail Blazers attack. The Trail Blazers had six players in double-figures for the night.
