MIAMI -- Chris Bosh broke out offensively at a most opportune time for the Miami Heat.
Bosh scored 13 consecutive Miami points -- including three straight 3-pointers -- in the closing minutes to help Miami rally from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Charlotte Bobcats 99-98 at AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday night.
Bosh, who finished with 22 points, had scored in single digits in each of his previous three games. He hadn't scored 20 or more since a Nov. 9 loss to Boston.
The Heat, who appeared in an offensive funk most of the night, managed to win their 10th in a row and 13th in 14 games.
LeBron James scored a game-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He also had five rebounds and four assists.
The backcourt tandem of Gerald Henderson (8 points) and Kemba Walker (7 points) helped Charlotte outscore Miami 25-14 in the third quarter to build a 73-61 cushion.
Miami trailed by as many as 14 early in the fourth but got within three points when Mario Chalmers nailed a 3-pointer with 4:48 left.
Charlotte went ahead by seven on Josh McRoberts' basket with 3:31 left, but all that did was set Bosh's long-distance exploits.
Miami trailed 48-47 after a first half in which James scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
The Heat's second unit was very active -- Chris Andersen had 2 points and two blocks -- in helping to build a 10-point advantage early in the second quarter, but the Bobcats closed with a 14-5 run.
Bosh's late scoring outburst. His three straight 3-pointers not only pulled Miami closer, each one got the crowd going louder.
Bosh. He finished 8-of-13 shooting, including 3 of 4 from behind the arc. He also had nine rebounds in his 35 minutes.
Bosh only had two personal fouls. He had three or more in each of his previous four games -- foul trouble that helped limit his recent offensive production.
The Heat play the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Miami then goes on a four-game road trip to Chicago, Minnesota, Detroit and Indiana.
Charlie McCarthy can be reached at mac1763@bellsouth.net or on Twitter @mccarthy_chas.
