Late heroics in Minnesota keep Heat undefeated

by David Dwork on Dec 31, 2011 2:46 PM EST

It wasn't as easy as past trips to Minnesota have been, but the Miami Heat was able to withstand the new-look Timberwolves and come away with another last second victory. Once again it was Dwyane Wade putting in the game-winner, this time coming on a stolen play that led to a Heat defeat last season. The Boston Celtics beat Miami on an ally-oop inbound pass to Rajon Rondo, and last night the Heat did the same thing, with LeBron James tossing the ball from the sideline right to a streaking D-Wade, who caught the ball in mid-air and dropped it in the basket with 4.9 seconds left.

Wade wasn't playing at 100%, suffering from a sore left foot, but he still led the Heat in minutes with 38 and scored 19 points, including several big buckets in the 4^th quarter. It was probably a closer game then some Heat fans expected, but the Timberwolves are a team on the rise. During a postgame interview, D-Wade acknowledged just that:

"I'm glad we played them early because later they're going to be trouble. So I think Timberwolves fans will have something to cheer about for a while here."

Rookie point guard Ricky Rubio and forward Kevin Love are the centerpieces in a franchise that won't be kept out of the playoffs much longer. Their 7-year postseason drought might not end this season, but there are a lot of people out there who wouldn't be surprised if it did. The young talent on their roster is unmistakable and like the Heat last season, will only get better as time goes by. That bodes well for Miami as this was the one and only meeting between the two teams this season.

GAME NOTES

Ricky Rubio finished with 12 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds. He hit both of his 3-point attempts.
Norris Cole capitalized on Mario Chalmers foul trouble, as the rookie played 30 minutes to Rio's 15.
Cole finished with 12 points and 4 assists while Chalmers came away with 9 points and 5 assists. All of Rio's points came on 3-pointers as he went 3-of-4 from downtown.
Chris Bosh has been quietly amazing this season. He has been consistently good, especially in clutch moments. Last night he had another solid effort, finishing with 20 points, 9 boards, 4 assists, a steal and a blocked shot.
Then there's the birthday boy, LeBron James. He came just two rebounds away from a triple-double last night, finishing with 34 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and a game-high 4 steals. LeBron is now averaging 33.0 points per game this season.
Michael Beasley and Darko Milicic were equally unimpressive. They combined to score 7 points on 3-of-9 shooting and had little impact on the game.

Next up for the Heat will be a tough stretch of 4 games in 5 nights, beginning with back-to-back home games against division opponents. Sunday at 6 against Charlotte and Monday at 7:30 against Atlanta.

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Minnesota fan, didn't have a chance to watch.

Can I just say, the mentions of LeBron’s birthday are bizarre? Like I said, I didn’t even get to see this one…. And I’ve still heard maybe six times – at least twice in the NBA site’s highlight video, for example – that LBJ was celebrating his birthday.

What
the
Heck?

"Opinion ...a confession."

by feral on Dec 31, 2011 3:33 PM EST reply actions

Happens with every star player.

Expect the same with kobe, melo, and wade. However, you probably heard lebrons bday mentioned more because he plays especially well on that particular day. And play well he did. Hope that answers your question.

by WhatsHisFace305 on Dec 31, 2011 5:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I've been a fairly big NBA fan since 1989, when the Minnesota franchise began.

Aside from Gilbert Arenas’s shindig when he was on his first big contract, I can’t recall a single example like this. No criticism intended…. It just seems quite strange.

"Opinion ...a confession."

by feral on Jan 1, 2012 2:00 AM EST up reply actions

thats not true

lebron doesnt play exceptionally well on his birthdays, he actually drops those gaudy numbers on a regular basis…regarldess of what day of the year it is…it could be the second tuesday in january and lebron will drop 39/13/8, but its not like he dropped those numbers cuz its the second tuesday, same with his birthday….

i think it would be more news worthy if he ONLY dropped big numbers on his birthday, but he essentially drops them year round…which is why teams went crazy for him in 2010

I dont care what the D.N.A. Says, the Guy wearing number 12 Cannot be Kirk Hinrich, he is definetly Kurt. Kirk can actually play basketball!

by piccolomair on Jan 1, 2012 2:36 AM EST up reply actions

Ok the only reason I can think of is...

He’s very popular, believe it or not. I’m sure you two don’t believe that, but why else would espn/highlight vids keep talking about his bday? There’s even a special heat section on espn all about heat news. People want to know about lebron/the big 3. It’s very strange and over the top, I agree.

by WhatsHisFace305 on Jan 1, 2012 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

well yea..

thats pretty much it, he is THE player in the nba, what feral was just saying was that Does espn and the nba media machine have to go out of its way to talk about lebrons birthday especially since it really holds no importance to the game of basketball. They sort of go out of their way to make the casual viewer think theres some connection to lebron dropping big numbers and his birthday which isnt an insult towards lebron himself, but towards the nba media machine. Anyone who follows the nba knows lebron was gonna drop those numbers on any given day on the timberwolves, so its sort of annoying to have the nba media machine talk about it as if lebron did something out of the ordinary on his birthday. Maybe if it was some other player….it would be, but for lebron its another day at the office…its just annoying to be force fed comments about lebrons birthday and how it somehow holds any significance to anyone outside of lebrons actual family/friends/entourage

I dont care what the D.N.A. Says, the Guy wearing number 12 Cannot be Kirk Hinrich, he is definetly Kurt. Kirk can actually play basketball!

by piccolomair on Jan 1, 2012 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

Piccolo; I'm a bit off topic here but..

Your an undercover Heat fan. Lol Maybe 99.9% Bulls but their is certainly .01% Heat in you

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 5:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

nah im just playing nice

i do like wade, i disliked lebron even before the decision and only wanted him on the bulls for the purpose of winning, i dont hate bosh, but liked him a lot more when he wasnt constantly in the limelight and was just an under rated bigman. I like the norris cole pick, ive always like shane battiers game as an awesome defender role player.

A lot of what i dislike about the miami heat actually stems from the media hype machine though as opposed to their team, theres only two things i really hate about the heat away from the media hype, one is lebron; more for his personality as opposed to his game, theres no doubting hes got the best array of physical gifts and talents but the way he flaunts against oppositions and how hes more of a jokester with his team mates as opposed to a serious leader….to me in that sense he doesnt have MY IDEAL (so in other words this is all my opinion and subjective reasoning) personality for the greatest. I think wade has the personality i would consider for the greatest.

The second thing i hate about the heat….i dare not say.

I am a fan of nba basketball, so i do like to offer my two cents on some matters whenever possible, i try not to cross any lines, but i fear i do often, and for the past, for the present, and for the future…i do apologize for that

I dont care what the D.N.A. Says, the Guy wearing number 12 Cannot be Kirk Hinrich, he is definetly Kurt. Kirk can actually play basketball!

by piccolomair on Jan 1, 2012 6:07 PM EST up reply actions

Im interested in that second reason

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I bet it's the fans. Isn't it.

by WhatsHisFace305 on Jan 1, 2012 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

Wade is the closer, period!

.Heat Tri-nasty is inevitable!

by thedeeofdees on Dec 31, 2011 5:33 PM EST reply actions

LeBron proposed to his girlfriend. Congrats

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 4:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Use this as a game thread guys

Till the real one is up

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Bosh beautiful hook

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Rio!!

For trey

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:15 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Good start

Unlike the last time these two played

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions

AndUNO

For Bosh

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Bosh is definitely gonna get him a double double

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:19 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Joel whata block !!

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:19 PM EST via mobile reply actions

What a tip by Wade

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions

If Wade missed that tip, Anthony was right behind him

I like this season’s focus on attacking the rim

by RocketSprocket on Jan 1, 2012 6:22 PM EST reply actions

This

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Alley to Bosh woo

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Charlotte shot Is off! Lmao

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:25 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Does it seem like Mario is picking it up a notch this year?

by RocketSprocket on Jan 1, 2012 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

Yea.

That guard spot is up for grabs

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Rio!!!

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Joel hook. Sweet.

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:28 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Up 16..

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:28 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Um... Lebron james should have late night parties every night before every game from now on, lol

by implicit on Jan 1, 2012 6:31 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Lmaoo

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Rio is on fire

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Two on LBJ

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Rio stop it !! Stop it!!

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I want to see the Heat hold the big lead all the way to the end of the game

by RocketSprocket on Jan 1, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions

Hard to do that with the 5 on the court

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Battier is in a super slump

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Wow. You're not kidding.

by RocketSprocket on Jan 1, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

Lol, can't even make free throws!!! Damn!

by implicit on Jan 1, 2012 6:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Rio is getting doubled? Wow..

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Vintage miami heat "D" yet again! Holding charlotte under 20 for the quarter!!!

by implicit on Jan 1, 2012 6:38 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Battier needs to sit and practice everything that has to do with his shot

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Lol lol, right!

by implicit on Jan 1, 2012 6:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Cole needs a nickname

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Run Norris Run!

by RocketSprocket on Jan 1, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

Battier seems like another Joel Anthony..

Which isn’t bad, but ..

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I like Mario’s 3s. He’s under control. Battier’s shot will come. UD worries me

by Heliumiami on Jan 1, 2012 6:44 PM EST reply actions

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I like them both

Chalmers for aggressive steals and 3 point shooting.

Cole for his awesome running game.

by RocketSprocket on Jan 1, 2012 6:56 PM EST up reply actions

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Maybe he sees the fans getting to games late.

Or because fans don’t sellout every game.

by WhatsHisFace305 on Jan 1, 2012 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

Party city...

Games don’t sell out because Heat tickets are RIDICULOUS!!

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:49 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:53 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Hawks and pacers are overrated IMO

Knicks will be interesting. They downgraded the pg position but upgraded the center spot.

by WhatsHisFace305 on Jan 1, 2012 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

Pacers put the Bulls through hell in the playoffs

And they only got better upgrading with West

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'm really upset...

… wer aren’t getting more of the bench into the game – rest Wade.

by Heliumiami on Jan 1, 2012 7:54 PM EST reply actions

We will soon

I applaud Spo for not allowing a player to play 37 minutes yet ..

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 7:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 8:00 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Harris is In..

Should be seeing Pitt or Glad soon

We Bout To Let These Haters Know..
This Heat Thing, IS MORE THAN HYPE

by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Jan 1, 2012 8:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions

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Late heroics in Minnesota keep Heat undefeated

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