National Basketball Association roundup: Heat outlast Cousins-less Kings

Kings point guard Rajon Rondo had an National Basketball Association season-high 18 assists to go along with 14 points and nine rebounds, coming up just one board short of a triple-double.

“He’s kind of seized the moment and played at a high, high level”, said Kings head coach George Karl. Moving forward in the season, Cousins needs to play like a superstar center every game for the Kings to have any success.

Wade added 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals for Miami, which got 12 points and 4 blocked shots from Hassan Whiteside and 19 points with 3 three-pointers from back-up guard Tyler Johnson. Belinelli led the team in scoring with 23 points, and McLemore had his best game of the season, pouring in 17 points on 3 of 4 from 3-point land.

“I’ve been at the top of this game before”, said Stoudemire, who hasn’t played since the second game of the season.

Honestly, tonight would have been a tough game for the Kings to come out victorious even with Cousins, so without him chalked this one up for the Heat before tip-off.

The Heat went on a 10-0 run in the middle of the third quarter to go up 72-61 after the Kings almost erased a 12-point first-half deficit to creep within one.

The Kings announced Gay would not return with an injury to his left shoulder. Unlike their 103-91 loss Tuesday night to Minnesota, which outscored Miami 41-22 in the final quarter, the Heat pulled away from the Kings in the fourth.

Rondo was left to direct the Kings.

Gay was hurt in the third quarter driving to the basket as Miami’s Justise Winslow took a swipe at the ball. Stoudemire had not played in the last eight games due to soreness in his knees, but the 33-year-old forward showed flashes of his days when he was a six-time All-Star with a dunk and jumper on back-to-back possessions.

Wade’s great night continued in the second half, as he finished with 24 points, six assists and five rebounds. The Kings’ last win in Miami was November 10, 2001. The floor general had his most assists in a Kings jersey, as he ended the game with 18 assists with only three turnovers.

Both teams came in on a one-game losing streak, looking to get back on track. He’s also worn the uniforms of the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards in past games at Miami – and started his career with the Heat in 2002. Heat C Chris Andersen was not with the team while dealing with a personal matter that coach Erik Spoelstra called an “excused absence”.