Cavaliers blast Heat

Associated Press

Cleveland

Dwayne Wade’s left knee is only sore, nothing seriously damaged.

Miami’s playoff push hobbles along.

Wade bruised his knee in the first half, but the Heat’s postseason chances may have avoided a devastating blow despite a 114-88 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.

Wade got hurt in the second quarter and Miami, which has been ravaged by injuries this season, didn’t have the firepower to stop the Cavs, who got 23 points apiece from LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and won their 17th straight at home.

Following the game, a relieved Wade stood at his locker and said he banged the inside of his knee when he hit the floor. However, he expects to play again.

“It could have been worse,” Wade said.

Wade got hurt when his right knee buckled while he drove the right side. The three-time NBA champion crumpled to the floor with his left knee bending awkwardly. With Wade on his back, the Cavs stole the ball, and as play continued on the other end, the 33-year-old remained on the floor.

“When you go down like that, I couldn’t bust into a split, I’m not that flexible,” Wade said, forcing a smile. “I knew I was in trouble on my way down. It’s just unfortunate. Nothing happened I guess. I was a little concerned. Once they did the tests on my knee to make sure all my ligaments were strong and straightened, it’s a little better.”

Wade will receive more treatment today, and hopes he’ll play Saturday when the Heat visit the Detroit Pistons — another key game as they try to lock up a playoff spot.

The Heat dropped into a tie for eighth place with idle Boston in the Eastern Conference standings. Tristan Thompson added 15 rebounds for Cleveland, a league-best 30-7 since Jan. 15. Iman Shumpert added 17 points for the Cavs, who played without starting forward Kevin Love. He sat out with a sore back after being elbowed in Sunday’s win over Philadelphia.

Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside each scored 17 for Miami.

Despite losing Wade, the Heat were still within 11 late in the third quarter before the Cavs scored eight straight, capped by J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer in the final seconds to take a 91-72 lead.

PASSING EWING

With his first basket — fittingly a short hook shot in the lane — James passed Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing (24,815 points) for 20th place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

Next up for the 30-year-old James, who has averaged at least 25 points in each of the past 10 seasons, is Jerry West (25,192).

Earlier this season, James passed Robert Parrish, Charles Barkley, Ray Allen and Allen Iverson — players he idolized as a kid.

“It’s an honor,” James said. “When I was growing up and seeing these guys and you hope that one day you could play in the NBA and seeing what Pat and those guys did in the ’90s with that New York Knick team. He was the cornerstone of the whole thing.”

Cleveland’s team record for consecutive home wins is 23, set during the 2008-09 season. .