MIAMI, Florida, January 5 – Miami and Chicago each improved to an NBA-best 6-1 with lopsided victories on Wednesday while the Washington Wizards remained the NBA’s only winless club by being routed at Orlando.
LeBron James scored 33 points, passed out 13 assists and grabbed eight rebounds to spark host Miami over Indiana 118-83. Chris Bosh added 22 points while Dwyane Wade did not play, sitting out with a bruised left foot.
“Just trying to be as smart as I can right now,” Wade said. “I haven’t had my lift because I haven’t been able to explode. You play through pain but you have got to take a look at it.
“It’s the kind of thing that’s day-to-day. It feels good one moment, it doesn’t the other.”
Roy Hibbert led the Pacers with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Heat stayed one game atop the Southeast division ahead of Orlando, which improved to 5-2 by ripping Washington 103-85, knocking the Wizards to 0-6, the worst start in franchise history.
Dwight Howard scored 28 points and pulled down 20 rebounds to power the Magic to victory while Ryan Anderson added 23 points and 15 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu and JJ Redick each added 14 points for Orlando.
Nick Young paced the visiting Wizards with 17 points.
At Detroit, Chicago’s Carlos Boozer scored 19 points and Derrick Rose contributed 17 points and 10 assists in the Bulls’ 99-83 victory over the Pistons.
At 6-1, the Bulls moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Indiana atop the Central division.
Joakim Noah added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls while Detroit was led by Greg Monroe’s 19 points and 13 rebounds.
