Wade leads Heat past LeBron, Cavs

LeBron James didn't have any better luck in his second game back in Miami since leaving the organization he led to four straight Finals appearances. 

Former teammate Dwyane Wade outplayed James, scoring a game-high 32 points to propel the Heat a 106-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. 

James, who was booed by the Heat faithful, was quiet for most of the night, failing to record his first rebound of the game until late in the fourth quarter. A 16-point fourth helped James - who played despite tweaking his right knee Sunday - scored a team-high 26, but the four-time MVP and his Cavaliers came up short in Miami for the second time this season. 

The Heat, who dropped the Cavaliers on Christmas Day in James' return, won for the fifth time in eight tries this month to take over the No. 8 seed in the ever-changing Eastern Conference standings. 

They have Wade to thank for that. He was in vintage form, using mid-range jumpers and an aggressive attack to shoot an efficient 13-of-18 from the field. He also pulled off some ridiculous passes, adding five assists to his sixth consecutive 25-plus point game. 

"He did it again," James said of Wade. "When his pullup is going, you can't do much with him."

It appears Wade saves his best for whenever he plays his close friend. Wade notched his fourth 30-point game of the season, two of which have come against the Cavaliers. 

He helped the Heat build a comfortable cushion early, scoring 21 in the first half, and the team never looked back en route to snapping the Cavaliers' four-game winning streak. Miami took a commanding 18-point lead into the half - Cleveland's largest deficit after two quarters this season - and was ahead by as many as 25. 

Hassan Whiteside helped the Heat out-rebound the Cavaliers 45-32. He scored 16 points and hauled in 11 rebounds, his 16th double-double of the season. Goran Dragic added 20 points, nine assists and five boards in the win.