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| EYEING THE BASKET: Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose (L) shoots the ball as Los Angeles Clippers’ Brian Cook fouls him during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. (Reuters) |
LeBron James celebrated his 27th birthday in grand style, and Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade rose to the occasion with the perfect gift.
Wade soared to the rim for the game-winning layup with 4.6 seconds left after taking a perfect lob pass from James out of a timeout, and the Heat escaped with a 103-101 road victory over the stubborn Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
“It’s my first time playing with LeBron on his birthday,” Wade said, “so happy birthday to him.”
James was brilliant, finishing with 34 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists for Miami, which opened the season at 4-0 for just the second time in franchise history. “My birthday and my mom’s birthday are the two days I feel real, real good about playing basketball,” James said.
Chris Bosh scored 20 points and Wade added 19, including his second consecutive game-winner despite playing on a sore left heel.
“Obviously I wasn’t myself, but I try to do what I can to help my team win,” Wade said. “At the end of the game you just have to do what have to do to get a win.”
With the game knotted at 101-apiece, Wade cut off two screens and streaked to basket to put in James’ alley-oop pass for the eventual game-winner.
The Timberwolves had a final shot to win the game, when Spanish rookie guard Ricky Rubio sent a pass over to Wayne Ellington, but his jumper missed at the buzzer.
“We stole the play from Boston,” James said. “That’s two game- winners back-to-back for D-Wade. I like it.”
Kevin Love collected 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Rubio finished with 12 points with 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who dropped to 0-3 on the season.
Elsewhere:
Dallas Mavericks 99, Toronto Raptors 86: Backup centre Ian Mahinmi scored a career-high 19 points, German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki added 18 and the NBA Champion Mavericks (1-3) won their first game of the season despite a game-high 30 by Raptors Andrea Bargnani.
Boston Celtics 96, Detroit Pistons 85: Jermaine O’Neal scored 19 points, Paul Pierce added 12 in his season-debut after missing the first three contests with a sore right heel, and the host Celtics (1-3) won their first game of the season.
Greg Monroe had a game high 22 points for the Pistons, who dropped to 0-3 under new coach Lawrence Frank.
Chicago Bulls 114, LA Clippers 101: Reigning league MVP Derrick Rose scored 12 of his 29 points in the final frame and handed out 16 assists, as the visiting Bulls pulled away to beat the Clippers.
Blake Griffin had 34 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, while Chris Paul finished with 15 points and 14 assists.
Orlando Magic 100, Charlotte Bobcats 79: Dwight Howard had 20 points and 24 rebounds, Ryan Anderson scored 23, and the visiting Magic rolled to their third straight victory.
Memphis Grizzlies 113, Houston Rockets 93: Zach Randolph scored 23 points, Spaniard Marc Gasol added 20, and the host Grizzlies ripped the Rockets for their first victory of the season.
Phoenix Suns 93, New Orleans Hornets 78: Reserve Hakim Warrick scored 18 points, Channing Frye pulled down 16 rebounds, and the visiting Suns held the Hornets to 29% field goals shooting for their first win of the season.
Indiana Pacers 98, Cleveland Cavaliers 91 (OT): Danny Granger erupted for nine of his 22 points in overtime, and the host Pacers improved to 3-0 after outlasting the Cavaliers.
Milwaukee Bucks 102, Washington Wizards 81: Brandon Jennings scored 22 points, Andrew Bogut had 13 points with 15 rebounds, and the Bucks kept the visiting Wizards winless after three games.
Utah Jazz 102, Philadelphia 76ers 99: Derrick Favors scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Paul Millshap collected 14 points and 14 boards, as the host Jazz (1-2) edged the Sixers for its first win of the season.