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Chicago in consecutive losses. Ja

(2015-02-06 20:02:35) 下一個
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Miami Heat walked into Target Center with a big problem over the previous two games -- they had been dominated on the glass. wholesale nfl jerseys . That was two games too many for LeBron James. The reigning NBA MVP had 21 points, eight assists and 14 boards for his first double-digit rebounding game of the season, leading the Heat to a 103-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. Dwyane Wade had 19 points and five rebounds in his return from a two-game absence and the Heat controlled the glass until garbage time after getting hammered on the boards by Detroit and Chicago in consecutive losses. James 14 boards were the most hes had for the Heat in a regular season game. "Dont talk about it, just go do it," James said. "To me, when I say it, I go and make it happen." Kevin Martin scored 19 points for the Timberwolves. But they sorely missed Kevin Love, who was with his family following the death of his grandmother on Wednesday night. The Wolves shot a franchise-low 29.3 per cent while the Heat made 55 per cent of their shots to overcome 20 turnovers. "We didnt play very tough tonight," Martin said. "The champs showed us how its done." The Heat havent lost three in a row in the regular season since January 2012. And James wasnt about to revisit that slide. "We dont like losing back-to-back games, and we definitely dont want to lose three in a row," James said. "So it was a good pick-up game after the loss to Chicago." The Heat were bludgeoned on the boards 49-27 by the Bulls on Wednesday night and 46-34 by the Pistons on Tuesday night. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke on Saturday morning of needing all five players on the floor to attack the glass because they dont have a singular rebounding force like the Wolves do. Despite having to go to the bench earlier than usual with two fouls in the first quarter, James still managed to rack up 10 rebounds before the first half was over. He posted his highest regular-season rebounding total since his last season in Cleveland, when he grabbed 16 against Sacramento on Dec. 23, 2009. Minnesota just barely won the rebounding battle, 45-44. But the Heat won on the defensive glass, 37-28. The night was punctuated in the third quarter when Wade threw a pass off the glass to a soaring James for a 71-57 lead. "He came out with force," Spoelstra said of James. "And it was on both ends. He was active, he was over the top with his athleticism. Some of the rebounds were up over the crowd, playing out of the post, but also in transition playing in a different motor." Wade missed the previous two games, first with knee soreness and then because of an illness. He suffered a scare in the first quarter when he appeared to bang his right knee as he crashed to the court. He writhed in pain for a few minutes, but was able to get up and keep going. The Heat play at Detroit on Sunday, but it wasnt certain that Wade would play. Spoelstra likes to rest him on back-to-backs to reduce the wear and tear on his knees. Nikola Pekovic had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolves, who were playing after a game against San Antonio in Mexico City on Wednesday night was postponed due to smoke in the arena. Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio struggled mightily with one point on 0-for-4 shooting, six assists and six turnovers. "It seems like we were scared," Rubio said. "That cant happen." NOTES: Chris Bosh had nine rebounds for the Heat. ... Love is expected to practice Sunday and be in uniform for the Wolves next game against the Pistons on Tuesday. ... The Heat stayed in a hotel just across the street from the arena, but took a bus for the morning shootaround as most teams do. Spoelstra usually walks when hes here. But a wind chill that dipped to 15-below zero made him think otherwise. "I had to make it from the door to the bus," Spoelstra said. "Those 10 steps were about as tough as it gets." cheap jerseys . After losing the first two games of this set in Arlington the Tigers showed some signs of life on Tuesday, as Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta all homered and Austin Jackson went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for the AL Central champs in a 5-2 win. cheap jerseys from china . Later, his catcher delivered the deciding stroke. Price struck out 10 in his Detroit debut and was long gone when Alex Avila homered in the 12th inning to lift the Tigers over the New York Yankees 4-3 Tuesday night.NEW YORK -- Attention, shoppers! Free agency in the NBA is open, and LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are available. Players and teams could begin negotiating just past midnight EDT on Tuesday morning, though contracts cant be signed until July 10, after next seasons salary cap has been set. James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who joined together in Miami in 2010 and have led the Heat to two championships and four straight NBA Finals, all became free agents. Though many expect that trio to stay with the Heat, Anthony could be persuaded to leave the New York Knicks for a team he believes gives him a better chance to compete for a championship. He was visiting Chicago on Tuesday, and Houston and Dallas also could try to pry the 2012-13 scoring champion away from the Knicks, who can pay him around $30 million more than any team under NBA rules. Longtime stars Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol also are free agents, along with players such as Torontos Kyle Lowry and Indianas Lance Stephenson, who are coming off their best seasons in the league. Its the most anticipated free agency class since 2010, when James led a class that included Wade, Bosh, and other All-Stars such as Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson. That free agency period changed the NBA. This one might mostly change the Heat. They are in need of an upgrade after getting smashed by San Antonio in the finals, and the Big Three could help give them the means to make one if they agree to salaries that wont clog up too much of the cap. Knicks president Phil Jackson hopes Anthony also agrees to take less than a maximum salary, which would be more than $125 million if he stayed in New York. cheap nfl jerseys. Also in New York, the Brooklyn Nets stagger into free agency without their coach after letting Jason Kidd leave for the Milwaukee Bucks. The teams agreed to a deal Monday, with the Bucks sending two future second-round picks to the Nets, who allowed Kidd to pursue other jobs after denying his request for more power in the organization. Brooklyn has Pierce and Shaun Livingston among its key players who are free agents. The Los Angeles Lakers have plenty of money to offer, along with the chance to play with Kobe Bryant. Teams such as Phoenix and Atlanta have some good pieces in place and enough cap space to add another. They would love a shot at James, as would his home state Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he left in 2010. But its unclear how seriously the four-time MVP will listen to other teams after meeting with six suitors when he was last a free agent. The Cavaliers may not get James back, but they will have their current All-Star for a while. Owner Dan Gilbert wrote on Twitter early Tuesday morning that he had an agreement on a five-year contract extension with Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft. "Looking forward to the next 6 years of Kyrie Irving in CLE. Just shook hands & intend to sign on the 10th," Gilbert wrote, adding that he couldnt be more excited about the Cavs future. Players such as Clevelands Luol Deng and Washingtons Trevor Ariza could be good fallback options for teams who cant get James or Anthony. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '
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