AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — If LeBron James is thinking about an exit strategy out of Miami, he's certainly not letting on. Instead, he seems focused on holding down the fort until Dwyane Wade gets healthy.
With Wade missing his sixth straight game (ninth of the season) because of a sprained right ankle, it was up to James and Chris Bosh, the other two members of the Big Three, to hold on for a 101-98 road victory Wednesday night over a surprisingly game Detroit Pistons team.
James, who scored 10 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, was the subject of a report Tuesday night suggesting he was not entirely happy with the situation in Miami.
Specifically, the report said James was concerned about the "heavy-handed and disciplined style of team president Pat Riley."
The report went on to say that James could opt out of his contract after the 2013-14 season and would consider it if Riley continues as team president, and that he might consider returning to the team he spurned, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James, who was sitting and joking in the visitors' locker room with Wade, who made the trip, said he had not heard the report.
"That's news to me," James said. "I always talk about how this is a great organization. Cleveland is a great organization. For me, I'm here and worrying about our next game our next day and just trying to get better. That report, I don't know where it came from. I never said that."
The Heat, who improved to 13-5 on the season, are one of the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals again.
