LEAD: James drops in 30, Heat holds off late run by Raptors 95-89

By Paul Levine Feb 6, 2012, 0:10 GMT

Los Angeles - The Miami Heat hosted Kids Day on Sunday, but it turned out to be less than child's play.

LeBron James had 30 points with nine rebounds and the Heat held off a late rush to trim the stubborn Toronto Raptors 95-89.

'Anytime you have kids around, it's all good,' said James, whose two sons were among the many youngsters that filled up the American Airlines Arena. 'Being kid's day and an early start, it's all good.'

Dwyane Wade scored 25 points while Chris Bosh netted 12 against his former team for Miami, (18-6), which struggled to its seventh win in the last eight games, matching a franchise-record best start through 24 games.

'We knew it was going to be one of those grind-out kind of games.' Wade said. 'We understand that a lot of teams do that when they play the Heat - come out on fire.'

Miami led virtually the entire game and by 15 points midway through the final quarter but couldn't shut the door on its guests.

The Raptors went on a 12-point run to pull within 85-82 with 3 minutes 23 seconds left. They had a chance to square the contest but Jerryd Bales missed a three-pointer.

James, then, took charge. He made two free throws after receiving a hard foul by James Johnson and turned a steal into a two-handed dunk, sparking a 6-0 run, as the Heat pulled away for its sixth straight win over the Raptors.

'They came out and played really well,' James said. 'The good thing about it was we kept up with our principles, and that's to defend and put it away.'

DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points while Bayless and Linas Kleiza added 17 apiece for the struggling Raptors (8-17), who played without its top scorer Andrea Bargnani (left calf strain) for the 11th time in the last 13 games.

'It just shows,' DeRozan said, 'we can play and can compete with anybody.'

Elsewhere: Boston Celtics 98, Memphis Grizzlies 80: Kevin Garnett matched a season-high with 24 points, Paul Pierce added 21, while Rajon Rondo handed out 14 assists and the Celtics pulled away to beat the visiting Grizzlies for their fourth straight win.

Rudy Gay had 21 points while O.J. Mayo 15 off the bench to pace Memphis, which has dropped six of its last eight decisions.

The Celtic led 43-35 at halftime and carried a 69-61 edge after three quarters before using a game-breaking 21-7 run early in the fourth quarter.

Pierce (eight) and Garnet (six) combined for 14 points in the burst as the Celtics stretched a six-point advantage into a 90-70 cushion with five minutes remaining and coasted home with the runaway win.