MIAMI -- Best player. Best game of his career. LeBron James clearly isnt ready to concede his MVP award to anyone yet. Dazzling from inside and out, James put on the best scoring show of his NBA life Monday night, pouring in 61 points -- a career high and franchise record -- as the Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Bobcats 124-107. It was the eighth straight win for the two-time defending champions, who are starting to roll as the playoffs get near. James made 22 of 33 shots from the field, including his first eight three-point attempts. "The man above has given me some unbelievable abilities to play the game of basketball," James said. "I just try to take advantage of it every night. I got the trust of my teammates and my coaching staff to go in there and let it go." His career best had been 56 points, on March 20, 2005, for Cleveland against Toronto. Glen Rice scored 56 to set the Heat record on April 15, 1995, against Orlando. James had 24 points at halftime, then added 25 in the third quarter. The record-breaker came with 5:46 left, when James spun through three defenders for a layup that fell as he tumbled to the court. "There was an efficiency to what he was doing," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The rim looked like an ocean for him." Spoelstra walked into his postgame news conference with a confession: He nearly took James out after the third quarter. Good thing he thought better of that plan. "He was in a great groove, obviously," Spoelstra said. Al Jefferson had 38 points and 19 rebounds for the Bobcats, his huge night merely an afterthought. This was all about LeBron. "You take away his 61 points," Jefferson said, "and we still had a fighting chance there at the end." Yes, even the Bobcats were marveling at James. He was hitting from everywhere, even a pull-up three-pointer from about 30 feet -- Spoelstra joked it was from 40 -- late in the third quarter, as the crowd roared and the Heat bench jumped with joy. "Yeah, that was a designed play," Spoelstra deadpanned. "Weve been working on that one for a while." That was the moment, James said, when he knew he was in the midst of a special night. "I felt pretty good in the first half but halftime can always kind of derail things and slow things up," James said. "But I was able to get things going once again in the third quarter and I knew it could be one of those nights." Not "one of those nights." Even for James, this was like no other. Most points in a game. Most field goals in a game. Most points in any quarter in Heat history, with the 25 in the third. Most points in the second half, 37, by any Heat player ever. "Once he sniffed 60, we knew he was going for it," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "And the amazing part is the efficiency. Good Lord. Sixty-one on 33 shots, thats Wilt Chamberlain-esque. Thats pretty amazing. Incredible performance." When James checked out with 1:24 left, the entire Heat roster met him near midcourt for high-fives and hugs, and the sellout crowd gave him a standing ovation. A second huge roar followed when he waved to the crowd, as "M-V-P" chants rained down. Charlotte has allowed the two biggest single-game scoring totals in the NBA this season. Carmelo Anthony had 62 points for the New York Knicks against the Bobcats on Jan. 24. Chris Bosh scored 15 for the Heat, and Toney Douglas added 10. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Anthony Tolliver each scored 12 for Charlotte. "If hes going to shoot the ball like that from that range, theres nobody thats going to beat them," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said. Miami was without guard Dwyane Wade, who got a night off to rest. Spoelstra stressed theres been no setback for Wade, who has been on a knee-maintenance program throughout this season and is averaging 23.5 points on 62 per cent shooting since the All-Star break. Wade probably didnt mind sitting for this one. It gave him a courtside seat for the show. James scored 11 in the first quarter, after which Miami led by three, and added 13 more in the second. His 24-point first half was the highest-scoring opening 24 minutes for the four-time MVP in nearly a year, helping stake the Heat to a 60-54 lead at the break. Jefferson was up to 26 at that point. He didnt cool off much after halftime, either. It just didnt matter. James, said Clifford, "was phenomenal." There was no way Jefferson or anyone else was keeping up with James, who had to listen to critics in recent weeks say that Kevin Durants scoring for Oklahoma City this season shifted the balance of MVP power. Not so fast. "Every night I go on the floor I want to be the MVP, of this league, MVP of this team, MVP for me, myself and my family," James said. "Ive set a high standard and I have to live by that." James made three three-pointers in the first seven minutes of the quarter -- he was 6 for 6 from beyond the arc at that point -- and when Charlotte bit on his head fake from the top of the key, James coolly found Douglas to set up another 3. A tip-in by James followed not long afterward and just like that, the lead was up to 83-63. Charlotte scored the next six points, but any notion that the game was slipping from Miamis control was quickly extinguished. James scored the next six himself, a pair of three-point plays to restore the 20-point edge and give him 43 points, already a season high. All that was left to see was what hed finish with. The answer was history. "I was happy I was able to make a few plays to help us win," James said. NOTES: Spoelstra won the Eastern Conference coach of the month award for February. Houstons Kevin McHale won in the Western Conference, and the Rockets host to Miami on Tuesday night. ... The Heat improved to 10-6 when Wade doesnt play. Theyre 33-8 when he does. ... Kemba Walker had eight assists for Charlotte. ... The Heat were 16 for 28 from beyond the arc. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping . Peter Dawson took his long before he started the job. "I was playing an American one year at Oxford Golf Club, and he introduced me to this travelling mulligan," Dawson said. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday . Toronto announced the deal with the restricted free agent on Saturday. The terms were not disclosed. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . Wayne and Cindy Tuck of Ilderton, Ont., closed out round-robin play earlier in the day with a 7-3 win over Finland but needed a win over Austria to reach the final eight. Discount Shoes Black Friday .Mack, a reserve guard who came in averaging 3.8 points, made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc.Trailing 50-38 midway through the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 89-48 the rest of the way and sent the Cavaliers to their largest loss of the season. China Shoes Black Friday . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain.FIVE QUICK HOOPS THOUGHTS 1. RAPTORS OFFENCE: Spoke on Monday about the need for better ball and player movement. Entering Wednesdays game here in Memphis the Raptors are last (30th) in the NBA in assists. On top of that the types of shots theyre getting has to improve. They sit 26th in the League in field goal percentage and 21st in three-point percentage so the efficiency is an issue. Dwane Casey and his staff are constantly hammering the points home that need to be made yet progress has been slow so far. Somehow and someway this component of their team needs growth/development. Really curious to see how this team responds to the challenge Coach Casey has put to them. After the game in Memphis, six of the next seven games are at home. They will have a better schedule and more practice time. By the end of that stretch, theyll have had more than ample time to fix the issues. Then well know what true level this team can play at. 2. COLLEGE HOOPS: Caught a little of Julian Randle (Kentucky) and a good chunk of the Duke (Jabari Parker) vs. Kansas (Andrew Wiggins) game. Great energy in these early season games. All three guys showed me flashes of significant ability and potential. In NBA cities where the possibility exists for a high draft pick in 2014, something tells me that TV ratings for games this wonderful draft class plays in will be higher than normal. Should be a fun season to watch and see the progression of an exciting group. 3. ED DAVIS (Grizzlies): Entering Wednesddays game in Memphis, hes been limited in his role (11.dddddddddddd.6 minutes per game) and his numbers (3 ppg + 3 rpg) reflect that. Considering they didnt lock him up contractually long term its pretty evident that his current employer is in a wait and see mode with him. He plays behind some talented bigs and the opportunities arent as plentiful as in other situations. Stay with it. As frustrated as Im sure he is he has to be ready every night and sooner or later will get his break. That break could potentially be with another team down the road. Jury is still out on his true ceiling as a player. 4. TREVOR ARIZA (Wizards): When I think about the development of young guards John Wall and Bradley Beal its important to have an older player who is efficient and steady. He shoots threes and plays hard. His ability to be pretty consistent and keeping the floor spread will allow his younger teammates time to develop. 5. TYLER HANSBROUGH (Raptors): Hes been exactly what I expected as the Raps third big man. He plays all out all the time and is someone you can count on every night to give you all the effort plays. Hes a terror on the offensive glass and smartly only takes shots (56 per cent) he can make. Does a terrific job drawing fouls and for a big man hes an exceptional free throw shooter (84 per cent) which is rare. He is what he is, yet I like that - you always know what youre getting vs. the roller-coaster ride that you get with other players. ' ' '