[Newark, NJ] After beating the Charlotte Bobcats of Friday (see re-cap below) and clinching the Southeast Division title against the New York Knicks on Sunday 93-85, the visiting Miami Heat wanted to extend their winning streak to three against the New Jersey Nets.

The Heat sent a message in the potential playoff preview – just because the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony scored 42 points against them on Sunday, the boys from South Florida can still play great defense and offense in the clutch.

And Miami did it without Dwyane Wade, who did not play on Monday night (Terrel Harris started for Wade).

The Heat were struggling early in this one. The Nets’ Kris Humphries dominated the first quarter, scoring 14 points. For Miami, LeBron James scored 8 points and dished out 6 assists. At the end of one, the Nets were up 34-29.

Chris Bosh and the Heat turned it up a notch or two in the second. Bosh scored 8 points and had 5 rebounds, but the Nets continued to battle. New Jersey’s Sundiata Gaines scored 6 points and contributed with a couple key assists. At halftime, the Nets were up 55-52.

Humphries and Gerald Green kept at it for New Jersey in the third. Humphries scored half-a-dozen while Green poured in 11. The Heat couldn’t pull-off the expected comeback, as they were outscored by New Jersey 24-18. At the end of three, the Nets were up 79-70.

Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Miami Heat star LeBron James got home crowd treatment in New Jersey

LeBron went off in the fourth. In fact, King James held court for the final 6 minutes, erasing an 8-point lead that NJ held for most of the fourth quarter. James scored all 15 points during the Heat’s 15-9 run to end the game. It was epic.

In the final minutes, the New Jersey crowd was chanting “Lets Go Heat.” Amazingly, the Heat took their first lead on a LeBron jumper with only 13 seconds left. Then on the next possession for New Jersey, DeShawn Stevenson turned the ball over.

That led to LeBron making (!) a pair of free throws to seal the game. It probably helped that all you heard were “MVP” chants from the New Jersey crowd. The final score was Heat 100, Nets 99.

LeBron James was spectacular, scoring 37 points, handing out 7 assists and grabbing 6 rebounds. Chris Bosh also came up big, scoring 22 points and chalking up 15 rebounds.

“This is as big as he’s been for us in two years,” Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I love the look he’s playing with right now.”

The Miami Heat are now 43-17 on the season. They play the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

Copyright 2012 NBAE (photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

The Miami Heat clenched their division with a win over the Knicks on Sunday

On Sunday, the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, 93-85. Spoelstra wasn’t that impressed.

“I don’t think it means anything for the postseason,” Spoelstra said. “What it means is something about us and how we’ve been playing on the road as of late. We want to do a better job of it and the only way out is to get up, show up and collectively do better.”

Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

Carmelo versus LeBron was a key match-up

And now bonus coverage of Friday’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats who offered little resistance …

After coming off that painful loss against the Chicago Bulls, the Heat traveled back home to face the NBA’s worst team, the Charlotte Bobcats. Both Dwyane Wade and Mike Miller sat out due to injuries.

“They’re both a little bit sore coming off last night,” Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s too quick of a turnaround for them.”

Udonis Haslem also sat out due to an illness.

The Heat came out on fire against the Bobcats in the first quarter and never really looked back. They ended the quarter strong, going on a 14-4 run to put them up 33-19. Chris Bosh scored 10 points in the quarter.

In the second quarter, the bench for Miami combined to score 19 points and played great defense against the Bobcats’ starters. By halftime, the Heat were up 58-39.

The Bobcats played the Heat evenly in the third, but they had already dug themselves too big of a hole. At the end of the third quarter, the Heat were up 81-59.

The Miami bench was brought in to finish this one off and they did not disappoint. Dexter Pittman was a highlight, scoring 10 points and ending the game with a career high of 16. The final score was Heat 105, Bobcats 82.

“We need to play well,” LeBron James said. “We want to play better than we have on the road.”

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Copyright 2012 NBAE (photo: Chris Chambers/NBAE/Getty Images)

Miami Heat

[Miami, FL] Fresh off a 6-point win against eastern Conference rivals the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat were fired up to face the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, currently the best team in the Western Conference.

Helping the Heat in this possible NBA Finals preview was the fact that Dwyane Wade was back in the starting line-up after missing a game with an injury. Remember, it was only last week that the Thunder blew out Miami. But, at home in front of a raucous, Wednesday-night crowd, there was a different outcome.

In Miami’s last game, LeBron James dominated Philadelphia’s defense scoring 41 points, and that trend continued against the Thunder. In the first quarter, James scored 10 points and had 2 assists. Kevin Durant kept the Thunder at the same pace as the Heat, scoring 11 points.

At the end of the first, the Thunder were up 23-21. This was not going to be easy.

It seemed as if everything was going to fall apart for the Miami Heat at the 6-minute mark. At that point, they were down by 11. But, James and Wade combined to score 17 points within 6 minutes to take the lead before halftime. At halftime, the Heat were up 50-49.

The role players stepped up in the third quarter for Miami. Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem, Terrel Harris, and Joel Anthony combined to score 12 points. Chris Bosh also came alive, scoring 8 points. Consequently, the Heat outscored the Thunder 30-24 in the quarter, putting some distance between the two teams.

At the end of three, the Heat were up 80-73 and looking good.

An all-around effort by Miami in the fourth by kept OKC at bay. The Heat took the lead with 8:30 left and never looked back. Battier scored 6 points in the final 8 minutes. LeBron was attacking the basket, and by doing so, he also scored 6 points in the final 8 minutes.

At the end of the game, the final score was Heat 98, Thunder 93.

LeBron James scored 34 points and had 10 assists. Dwyane Wade also contributed, scoring 19 points and had 3 steals.

There was tension during this game as both teams sensed a future post-season meeting. Towards halftime when James jumped to dunk, OKC’s Russel Westbrook pushed James out of mid-air and onto the ground. But, LeBron didn’t find much of a problem with it though.

“Playoff basketball,” James said. “I know Russ. I don’t think he’s a dirty player.”

The Miami Heat are now 39-14 on the season. Their next game is Friday, April 6 versus the Memphis Grizzlies.

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate

Image: Copyright 2012 NBAE (photo: Issac Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images)

Miami Heat

[Toronto, CAN] Back on the winning track after a fresh blow-out win against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, it was generally thought by most people that the Miami Heat would easily beat the Toronto Raptors at home.

Most were wrong.

The Heat came out attacking the paint in the first quarter, started off the game on a 10-0 run. Later on in the quarter, Miami was up 18-4 thanks to aggressive play, with all nine of their shots coming inside the paint. Dwyane Wade scored 10 points and had 4 rebounds.

But the Raptors regrouped and rallied and by the end of the first, the Heat were only up 31-27.

Undaunted, Miami kept at it in the second. Although Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra doesn’t give him much playing time, Terrel Harris came into the game and scored 5 points. After the role players got some good minutes in, LeBron James came in and took over, scoring 8 points within 7 minutes.

Chris Bosh also added 4 points to add to the lead. At halftime, the Heat were up 59-51.

The Raptors made a big comeback in the third quarter. Andrea Bargnani was playing  great defense inside and scored 15 big points, thanks to great passes and set-ups from Jose Calderon, who dished out 10 assists in the quarter. Toronto was able to cut the lead down to 1 and eventually take the lead.

Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James and his Big Three brethren scored 86 of the Miami Heat’s 113 against Toronto

At the end of three, the game was tied 83.

Two of the Big Three stepped up to put Toronto away in the fourth. With around 9 minutes left, the Heat were only up by 4. But C-Bosh and D-Wade took over and the Heat went on a 16-4 run. Bosh scored 10 points and Wade scored 12 points. The final score was Heat 113, Raptors 101.

The Big Three of Wade, James, and Bosh combined to score 86 of the 113 points scored by Miami. Dwyane Wade and Bosh both scored 30 points and LeBron scored 26 points.

Surely, Wade wanted to speak about the victory but instead spoke about the tragic news regarding his nephew.

“I played with a heavy heart. I played for him, with him in mind,” Wade said, referring to the shooting.

It is worth noting Wade continues to push and work toward stopping violence via his Wade’s World Foundation (WWF). WWF provides support to community-based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for children in at-risk situations.

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate

Images: COPYRIGHT 2012 NBAE (by: Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images

Miami Heat

[Atlanta, GA] With Dwyane Wade out with a contusion to his left foot and LeBron James out with a sprained ankle, the role players for the Miami Heat had to step up in an away effort against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

And step up they did as Chris Bosh, rookie Norris Cole and a host of bench buddies rose to the occasion in a thrilling triple-overtime win against ATL.

In the first quarter, the Heat played unexpectedly great, even without their stars. Their defense was surprisingly stingy – they held the Hawks to under 20 points in the quarter. Both Bosh and Udonis Haslem played excellent from the start and gave Miami the lead.

At the end of the first, the score was Heat 22, Hawks 19.

The role players stepped up for Miami in the second. Cole, Terrel Harris and Shane Battier got most of the offense as Miami was showing great confidence. It didn’t look like they were going to be slowing down anytime soon.  At halftime, the score was Heat 54, Hawks 49.

In the third, the Heat kept the lead throughout, until … with under a minute left, the Hawks were finally on top. Miami just needed one more quarter of solid basketball – and a few more buckets – to pull off the win without the Dynamic Duo. After three, it was Miami 68, Atlanta 72.

Atlanta and Miami went back in forth in the fourth quarter. Then, with 52 seconds left, Mario Chalmers made a shot to put the Heat within 2. The Heat were down by 4 again with 12 seconds left, but Bosh made a lay-up to put the Heat within 2 once again.

Photo: Miami Heat

The Miami Heat’s Terrel Harris

Miami had to foul, so Hawks’ guard Joe Johnson went to the free throw line. He only made 1 out of 2 free throws, so Miami had a chance with under 10 seconds left, to make a three pointer to send the game into overtime.

They inbounded the ball to Chalmers, he passed it back to Bosh, and he made a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left to send the game into overtime. At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 93.

In overtime, Chalmers started off the period by making two back-to-back layups to put the Heat up 97-93 with about 3 minutes left. Miami was up 99-95 with about 40 seconds left, but, the Heat turned it over twice and the Hawks tied up the game with about 19 seconds left.

Miami had the last possession, but Chalmers missed the game-winning three pointer, and the game went into double overtime tied at 99.

During double overtime, the Heat were once again up by 4. It was 107-103 with just over 2 minutes left, but the Hawks fought back and tied the game at 107. Marvin Williams made the tip shot and put the Hawks up 109-107. But Chalmers went to the free throw line with just over 20 seconds left.

With around 3 seconds left, Johnson drove into the lane, hoping to make the game-winning shot for the Hawks, but the ball was blocked. Harris and Al Horford had to do a jump-ball with 3 seconds left.

Horford tipped it back, but it was too late, the clock hit zero, and the game went into triple overtime. At the end of double overtime, the score was tied at 109.

The Miami Heat jumped out to a 114-109 lead in triple overtime with around 2 minutes left. Atlanta kept missing, so Miami had an opportunity to end the game with about a minute left. Chalmers drove into the lane, and made the layup to put Miami up 116-109.

Atlanta didn’t make any baskets in the third overtime period, and Miami won the game 116-109.

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Kevin C. Cox/Miami Heat

Miami Heat

[Dallas, TX] Coming off of last year’s disappointing loss in 6 games in The NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat had one thing on their mind for their season-opening Christmas Day rematch: revenge.

The Heat had a good strategy to start off the game. They were dumping the ball down to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the post and both were scoring at will. Midway through the first quarter, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra decided to play his rookie point guard, Norris Cole and new addition Shane Battier.

The Heat, dominating the paint and scorching the basket, ended the first quarter on a 21-6 run.

Miami started the second quarter off very sloppy and were turning the ball over. But mid-way through the quarter, the Heat’s best three-point shooter – James Jones – hit back-to-back threes to put Miami back up by 16. Spoelstra told his team to get rebounds and play a lot in the fast break and that’s what they did.

About mid-way through the second quarter, the Heat shifted into high gear, going on a 19-7 run to put them up by as much as 25. LeBron ended the half with 18 points and 7 rebounds. The Heat went into halftime up 62-41.

Miami pretty much put the nail in the coffin in the third, scoring 35 points. James scored 15 while Wade scored 8 points. A spectacular play came on the fast break, when Mario Chalmers meant to throw the alley-oop to James but instead he tipped it to Wade who slammed it home.

The third quarter ended with the score 97-65.

In the 4^th quarter, the Mavericks fought back, eventually cutting the lead down from 31 to 11. But the Heat were able to hold on and win the game and also spoil the Mavericks’ Christmas.

The final score was Heat 105, Mavericks 94.

LeBron James scored 37 points and collected 10 assists. James’ 37 points are a Miami Heat franchise record for a season opener. He passes the mark previously held by Tim Hardaway, who scored 32 in the Heat’s season opener in 1999. Dwyane Wade also chipped in 26 points and dished out 6 assists.

On a side note, two rookies made the final roster for Miami, Terrel Harris and Mickell Gladness. “This is probably the best Christmas gift that I’ve ever gotten in my life,” Gladness said. “I probably would have said, when I was younger, when I got a Sega Genesis for Christmas. But this just tops that.”

The Miami Heat’s next game will be at home against the Boston Celtics, who lost their opener against the New York Knicks. If the Heat can play defense for four quarters, and continue to create the kind of offense they did against the Mavs, they will make a return trip to the Finals.

And maybe this time they’ll win it all.

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate

Image: Miami Heat

Miami Heat

[Orlando, FL] It was a game of halves tonight at the Amway Center as the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat played the second in-state preseason match-up in less than a week.

The Miami Heat were on during the first game in Miami as the better-prepared team cruised to an astonishing 118-85 drubbing of the visitors. Even trade talked Superman could only muster 5 points, in what was described by the big fella as “embarrassing.”

But Orlando was determined to not let that happen again in round two, the gloves were off. But history did repeat itself – at the beginning of the game, anyway – as the Heat continued their dominant ways through the first two quarters, starting off the game in crushing fashion, scoring the first seven points.

The home fans were already starting to think that this one was over.

There were some great individual plays however from the Magic early on by some new faces including Von Wafer, who came over from the Boston Celtics. In the second quarter, he managed an awesome reverse stuff over the Heat’s Terrel Harris, who ended up on his backside and sliding across the floor.

LeBron James looked ultra-confident in the first quarter sinking jumpers and eyeballing the crowd with a knowing glare that said “we got this.” He finished the first half with 19 points and his team headed into the locker room with a 56-42 lead.

But Orlando seemingly came alive as the game went on, fueled by some magnificent plays by Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson (three threes!) and Glen Davis.

Davis – another acquisition from the Celtics – was showing his stuff alright. Big baby poured in 18 points on near-perfect 7 of 8 shooting, leading all Magic scorers on the night. Orlando fans will be praising that trade all season if he keeps putting up those kind of numbers.

Howard was impressive himself, going 6 of 8 for 15 points, a little below his average. His defensive effort certainly made up for the lost points. The one-two punch of Davis and Howard could be devastating this season – that’s a lot of body to get around to make it to the rim.

At the 8:18 mark in the fourth, the Miami Heat had only managed to score 2 points so far. The Big Three seemingly lost their mojo after six spectacular quarters of basketball against the Magic men. Now they were going to have to dig deep.

And they did. The Heat indeed rallied late – but the Magic were able to hold on for a 104-100 victory, buoyed by Jameer Nelson‘s 14 points and Richardson’s 15.

James led all scorers with 27, followed by Dwyane Wade with 21. Chris Bosh had a miserable game, chucking bricks and managing only 7 points out of eight shots. Norris Cole was able to throw in 11 points on 4-9 shooting.

Curiously sitting out the game (DNP-CD) for the Miami Heat, new signees Shane Battier and Eddy Curry. Consequently, the Heat looked a little thin off the bench.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Orlando Magic

Miami Heat

[Miami, FL] On Saturday, the Miami Heat announced the signing of free agent center Eddy Curry, a nine-year veteran of the league, as well as the signing of five players from the NBA Development League (D-League) many of whom have experience in pro basketball leagues from across the globe.

Maybe Miami should rename the team the Globetrotters.

With this final flurry of contract activity, the team’s line-up should be pretty much solidified going forward. Of the latest signings, Curry’s is the most talked about.

“Don’t know what to expect,” said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra of Curry after the team’s second day of training camp. “Obviously when he was healthy and playing at his peak form, he was a power in the paint … He had a very good day today.”

Spoelstra said Curry had lost weight since the last time he worked out for the team (which is a good sign). During his lengthy career, Curry has appeared in 511 games  and averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 25.4 minutes. He has shot an extremely high 54.5% from the field and a reasonable (for a big man) 64.2% from the foul line.

Curry’s former NBA teams include the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls.

In addition to curry, the Miami Heat snapped up some of the NBA Development League’s best talents, including guard Cameron Jones (Fort Wayne Mad Ants/Northern Arizona University), center Mickell Gladness (Dakota Wizards/Alabama A&M), guard Terrel Harris (Rio Grand Valley Vipers/Oklahoma State University), guard Jeremy Wise (Bakersfield Jam/University of Southern Mississippi) and forward Derrick Byars (Bakersfield Jam/Vanderbilt).

Three of the D-Leaguers – Harris, Wise and Byers – have been busy overseas peddling their wares in a variety of leagues in Germany, Israel, Italy, Philippines and France.

Yes, they have a pro league in the Philippines.

Per club policy, none of the terms of any of the deals were disclosed, although I am sure many of those D-Leaguers were signed for the league minimum.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Miami Heat

Miami Heat