MIAMI >> LeBron James and Dwyane Wade wrapped each other in a pregame embrace, chatted and laughed at halftime, then hugged again after the final buzzer.

Just like old times.

Only this time, just one got to enjoy a victory.

James’ return to Miami as an opponent was a success — for the Heat, that is. Wade scored 24 of his 31 points in the first half, Luol Deng had 25 points and dogged James defensively all night, and the Heat beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 in a hyped Christmas matchup Thursday.

“We didn’t have a bad breakup,” said Wade, making his 10th Christmas start. said. “We played against each other for seven years, man. The weirdness just wasn’t there. It wasn’t like we played against each other our whole career and the breakup happened.”

Here’s an example of how their relationship has endured: When James, who returned to Cleveland in the offseason after four seasons and two titles with the Heat, and the Cavaliers landed in South Florida on Wednesday, the four-time NBA MVP went to Wade’s house for a night of Christmas Eve revelry.

James turns 30 on Tuesday. He had questions for the 32-year-old Wade about what changes at that age. That’s what they talked about, no smack about how the Cavaliers are perceived to be a championship contender and how the Heat aren’t even at the .500 mark.

“We only play this game for so long,” said James, who got a warm ovation when a video of his Heat highlights played in the first quarter. “You’ve still got life afterwards. For us we’re going to compete, we’re going to go about our business and do what we need to do in our profession. You’ll never let friendship come in between that.”

It was fitting that they talked about life after 30 — because for the seventh time in their head-to-head meetings, both scored at least 30 points.

James had 30 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who got 25 from Kyrie Irving and 14 from Kevin Love. 

Chris Andersen scored 12 for the Heat, who led by as many as 17, trailed for a moment in the fourth quarter before gathering themselves and pulling away again.

James had a go-ahead dunk in transition with 11:20 left. After that slam put Cleveland up 78-77, he got a technical foul for hanging on the rim a bit too long — so that lead lasted exactly zero seconds.

Wade made a free throw after the technical, tying the game. And up 90-87 late, the Heat finished on an 11-4 spurt.

James took 18 free throws. The Heat took 17.

Bulls 113. Lakers 93

CHICAGO  >> Pau Gasol had 23 points and 13 rebounds in his first game against his former team and Chicago  beat Los Angeles with Lakers star Kobe Bryant sitting out for a second straight game..

The Bulls hung on after a 16-point second-quarter lead dwindled to two in the third. They pulled away in the fourth, sending the Lakers to their fourth loss in five games.

Thunders 114, Spurs 106

SAN ANTONIO >> Russell Westbrook scored 34 points, and Oklahoma City beat San Antonio in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals.

The Thunder earned their sixth straight regular-season victory over the defending NBA champions in the first meeting between the teams since San Antonio topped Oklahoma City in six games on the way to a fifth title.

The Thunder were without reigning MVP Kevin Durant, and the Spurs were missing Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

Serge Ibaka had 21 points or Oklahoma City. Matt Bonner had 17 points to lead seven players in double figures for San Antonio.

Wizards 102, Knicks 91

NEW YORK >> John Wall had 24 points and 11 assists, eluding the Knicks all day until getting knocked to the floor by a flagrant foul that sparked an altercation, and Washington beat New York.

Wall toyed with the Knicks for 31/2 quarters, highlighted by a spinning, 360-degree layup, before Quincy Acy knocked him down with a forearm shove with 5:31 to play. Wall got up and pushed Acy, who responded with a punch that appeared to hit Wall behind the neck. Acy was ejected in the Christmas dust-up, and Wall received a technical foul.

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points for the Knicks, who fell to 22-28 in a league-high 50 Christmas appearances.

Clippers 100, Warriors 86

LOS ANGELES >> Jamal Crawford scored 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, Chris Paul added 22 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers handed NBA-leading Golden State its second loss at Staples Center in three days.

The Warriors held the Clippers to 4-for-24 shooting in the first quarter and 39.1 percent for the game, two nights after the Lakers shot 51.7 percent against them.