LeBron James scored 38 points, including 24 in the third quarter, and brushed off the jeers and taunts in his return to Cleveland in the Miami Heat’s 118-90 beating over his former team the Cavaliers.

James appeared nervous at the start of the game, but seemed much more at home after the half. He erupted in the third quarter; making 10-of-12 shots and he taunted the Cavs’ bench with a mock laugh after his final basket – a fadeaway jumper from the corner right in front of his former teammates.

James’ outburst gave the Heat a 95-65 lead after the third quarter and allowed him to rest the entire fourth. Dwyane Wade had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Chris Bosh had 13 points in the rout.

Cleveland fans began booing him from the moment he stepped on the court 20 minutes before tipoff. It never let up, serenading him with chants of “Akron hates you!” in reference to his hometown 40 miles south of Cleveland. The taunts had little effect on James, who grinned so widely through his mouthguard during the chant that he almost began laughing.

Daniel Gibson had 21 points and Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams and Ramon Sessions each had 11 points for the Cavs.