LeBron James scored an NBA-high 51 points and had 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Miami Heat posted a 104-100 victory over the host Orlando Magic on Thursday.

James scored a franchise-record 23 points in the first quarter and hit a career-best 11 straight shots to start the contest as Miami (35-14) won its fourth straight game.

Orlando (31-19) trailed by 23 points with under eight minutes to play and nearly forced overtime. Ryan Anderson missed a game-tying 3-point attempt with 6.9 seconds left.

James finished 17-of-25 from the field and hit 14-of-17 free throws en route to his ninth career 50-point game. His previous season high was 44 points in an overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 9.

Jameer Nelson has 22 points for Orlando, which fell 4 1/2 games behind the Heat in the Southeast Division race.

The Magic trailed 90-67 before going on a 21-4 run to cut Miami’s lead to six with 1:51 to play. James then hit a 3-pointer and a free throw to get the lead to 10 before Orlando again rallied.

Dwight Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds for Orlando, but scored just one second-half point. Howard hit just 3 of 13 free-throw attempts.

Miami guard Dwyane Wade left the contest after falling hard on his back early in the third quarter. He sustained a bruise and returned in the final quarter. Wade scored 14 points.