Since setting the bar, the Lakers’ record never has been seriously threatened. The Houston Rockets, who won 22 straight in 2007-08, were the only team to even reach 20 straight since the Lakers’ magical run.

But now, the defending champion Heat led by James, a three-time Most Valuable Player, are making a charge. Miami extended its winning streak to 20 Wednesday night, rallying in the fourth quarter to beat the Philadelphia 76ers.

“It is certainly a possibility that the Heat could break our 33-game winning streak,” Sharman, a Hall of Fame coach, told Fox Sports Florida. “The record has held for 41 years, and all of us that participated in it are very proud to have been part of that season. However, [Heat president] Pat Riley has put together an amazing team, and I have to admit this one makes me a little nervous.”

Riley, a reserve guard on that Lakers team, built the Heat into a powerhouse in the summer of 2010 when he brought the trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together.

Hall of Fame guard Gail Goodrich, the leading scorer for the 1971-72 Lakers — his backup was Riley — also believes the Heat could make a run at the record.

“I’d say this is the most serious challenge we’ve had to our streak,” Goodrich told Fox Sports Florida. “I think they’ll make a very, very, very serious run at our record, They might even break it. They’re head and shoulders over the rest of the NBA. Who’s going to beat them? There’s not as much parity in the league now.”

Goodrich and Sharman both admitted that the record is something they would like to keep.

“Sure, I’d like to keep the record,” Goodrich said. “But I’m not going to root against the Heat.”

“If they break the record, I would be happy for Pat Riley,” Sharman said. “But, naturally, part of me wants to hold on to that record a little bit longer.”

The Heat, the fifth team in league history to win at least 20 straight, will try to extend their streak Friday at the Milwaukee Bucks, who beat them earlier this season. Here’s some irony: It was the Bucks who snapped the Lakers’ record run with a 120-104 victory on Jan. 9, 1972.

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“The draw was fair,” Frankfurt coach Armin Veh said. “We didn’t allow anything in the first half, Freiburg were better in the second.”

Frankfurt’s Stefan Aigner — who had a goal ruled out for offside early on — could only hit the side-netting after racing toward goal in the 17th minute.

Freiburg improved after the break and almost scored from a corner in the 64th, when Stefano Celozzi cleared Jan Rosenthal’s header off the line. One minute later, he did it again, this time from Mattias Ginter.

“That’s what I’m there for,” Celozzi said.

Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp denied Max Kruse in the 76th, Johannes Flum headed over with five minutes remaining and then drew another save from Trapp.

“When we in Freiburg get so many chances in the first Bundesliga (division), then I’m happy,” Freiburg coach Christian Streich said. “We can’t always hope that we score the winner in the 80th minute.”

Frankfurt remained fourth while Freiburg stayed three points behind ahead of the rest of the weekend’s games.

Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich hosts Werder Bremen on Saturday, while defending champion Borussia Dortmund visits Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

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Filip Sandberg put defending champion Sweden ahead on power play early in the second period, but Grimaldi then scored twice in a three-minute span to swing the game in the Americans’ favor.

He powered from behind the net to score, and then redirected Jacob Trouba’s slap shot from the blue line midway through second period.

Sweden pulled its goalie for an extra player with 1:42 left but failed to capitalize. Instead, Trocheck rounded off the win with 16.7 seconds left.

John Gibson made 26 saves for the victory and was named the MVP of the tournament. Niklas Lundstrom had 31 saves for Sweden.

It was the third title for the Americans, who also won in 2004 and 2010.

Earlier, Valeri Nichushkin scored an overtime winner to give Russia a 6-5 victory over Canada in the bronze-medal match.

Canada trailed throughout the match, but Brett Ritchie scored an equalizer with 9 minutes left of the third period to force overtime. In the extra 10-minute period, Nichushkin broke down the right flank on a solo effort and skated in front of the goal to score into the left corner after just 1:35.

Russia goalkeeper Andrei Makarov made 40 saves for the victory. Malcolm Subban stopped 19 shots for Canada.

It was the first time since 1998 that 15-time champion Canada finished without a medal at the event.

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