LeBron James’ 27-Game Win Streak with the Heat Still Stands as His Most Dominant Run
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LeBron James calls from March 2013 continue to echo whenever he sets foot in Miami. Between Feb. 3 and March 27 of that year, the then-28-year-old forward led the Miami Heat to 27 consecutive victories, the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.
How the Streak Began
The run opened on a frigid Sunday in Toronto on Feb. 3, 2013. Shaken by a loss to the Indiana Pacers two nights earlier, James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 81 points on 60 percent shooting to beat the Raptors 100-85. With Super Bowl XLVII kicking off that evening, team officials delayed their charter flight, rented space at Toronto’s Real Sports bar and turned the outing into an impromptu celebration.
Efficiency at Historic Levels
Head coach Erik Spoelstra’s push for shot selection paid off as the trio delivered one of the most efficient stretches ever recorded. During a six-game span inside the streak, James averaged 31 points on 72 percent from the field, Wade averaged 28 on 61 percent across nine contests, and Bosh posted 23 a night on 65 percent over six games.
Their offensive high point arrived on Feb. 26 in a double-overtime, 141-129 win over Sacramento. James scored 40 on 23 shots and handed out a then-career-best 16 assists; Wade added 39. The next morning the roster secretly filmed a Harlem Shake video that went viral within days.
Late-Game Escapes
Orlando nearly halted the surge on March 6. Trailing by three with under a minute remaining, Miami produced five straight stops, and James converted a driving layup with 3.2 seconds left to seal a 97-96 victory—his 200th consecutive regular-season game in double figures.
Twelve days later in Boston, the Heat erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit. James finished with 37 points, 12 assists and the deciding 20-footer with 10.5 seconds on the clock, while his dunk over longtime antagonist Jason Terry became an instant highlight.
The 27-Point Comeback in Cleveland
Win No. 24 came on March 20 at Quicken Loans Arena, where Cleveland led by 27 midway through the third quarter. Shane Battier and Ray Allen buried five quick three-pointers, and James opened the fourth with three of his own to cap a 45-12 surge. During the rally, a fan wearing a “We Miss You—Come Back 2014” T-shirt ran onto the floor; James gently patted him on the head before security intervened. The four-time MVP closed with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 98-95 win.
Streak’s End and Aftermath
The Heat’s pursuit of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers’ 33-game record ended on March 27 in Chicago, where the Bulls controlled the opening quarter and prevailed 101-97. Miami went 37-2 overall to finish the season, captured a second straight championship in a seven-game thriller against San Antonio, and solidified a run many inside the organization still view as James’ most overpowering.
No NBA team has matched 27 straight wins since, and only Golden State’s 24-0 start in 2015-16 has approached it. Thirteen years later, the tale remains a benchmark for both James and the franchise.
Source: ESPN
