Heat stay hot, pull away late to beat Cavaliers

MIAMI

Josh Richardson scored 20 points, Rodney McGruder had a seven-point possession in the fourth quarter to help put the game away, and the Miami Heat beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-110 on Friday night.

Bam Adebayo scored 17 points and Justise Winslow finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the Heat, who beat Cleveland at home for the 16th consecutive time and extended their current winning streak to four games. Kelly Olynyk scored 15, McGruder had 13 and Dwyane Wade finished with 12 for Miami.

And what amounted to a seven-point play by McGruder came in a 22-second span of the fourth.

He made a 3-pointer from the left corner while getting flagrantly fouled by Kevin Love. McGruder made the ensuing free throw, and McGruder then made a 3 from the right corner. A nine-point game became a 16-point game in an instant and the Heat weren’t in trouble again.

Collin Sexton led Cleveland with 27 points. Jordan Clarkson scored 21, Love had 19 and Brandon Knight finished with 15 for the Cavaliers.

The Cavs lost Larry Nance Jr. to a chest injury in the third quarter. He was scoreless.