Wade, Lebron continue to grow closer with time

MIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are known to bicker like brothers. They screamed at one another more than once during Miami Heat playoff games last season. And when they're on opposite teams in practice, they attack the other like they would any opponent.

Now they're closer than ever.

And on the cusp of entering Year 2 together with the Heat, Wade and James opened up about their friendship Friday in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I don't think many players that have the similar games as we have or have done the things that we did in the league can come together this fast and make it work," Wade said. "That communication is there. I don't mind him saying something to me. I don't mind when I have to say something to him. We know how to make it work."

They have so much in common that both find it almost funny sometimes.

Forget the obvious stuff: They're both among the NBA's highest-paid players, then make another truckload of money annually in endorsements. They're both among the league's best scorers, perennial All-Stars, among the most recognizable athletes in the world. What's often forgotten is the ties that really bind, like both having difficult times as kids, relying on one parent at a time and soon understanding that basketball was the vehicle for changing their lives.

James is 6-foot-8, Wade is 6-foot-4. James is from Akron, Wade from Chicago. James loves tattoos, Wade doesn't have any. James went to the NBA straight out of high school, Wade went to college first.

Nonetheless, Wade and James basically look at each other as mirror images.

"That had a lot to do with me coming down here," James said. "There's nothing that I've seen that he hasn't seen, and vice versa. To be able to be alongside him, be with him every day and basically go through the same things on the court and off the court, it's great. Sometimes you're able to sit back and see things from a different perspective instead of everybody watching you."

They take their cues from each other, whether it is fashion, workout regimens or just where to sit sometimes. For Friday's post-practice interview, Wade slid his body down a wall in a room adjacent to the Heat training facility, slumping to the floor.

"Tired," Wade said.

Two minutes later, James entered the room. Even though he didn't see how Wade took his seat, he did the same thing, putting his back to the wall and sliding to the red carpet.

"Tired," James said.

Maybe it's more than a coincidence.

"What's the saying? Iron sharpens iron. Greatness breeds greatness," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "So you see an example of that next to you. Those guys want to be challenged. Those guys like to be challenged. They do not accept the success that they've had and where they are right now. They're always trying to push to go to the next level. And there's no better way for them to do that than to have an equal peer next to them, pushing them."

The biggest question when Wade, James and Chris Bosh teamed up in July 2010 was will it work?

There have been bumps in the road, and likely there will be a few more - but they are making it work.

James finished second in the league in scoring, Wade finished fourth. Since 1965, the only other time two teammates were among the NBA's top four scorers, and played for a team that went to the NBA finals was 2001, when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal did it for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Of course, Bryant and O'Neal won the title; Dallas beat Miami in last season's finals. And James and Wade will get yet another reminder of that defeat Sunday when the Heat open their season against the Mavericks - and watch the new champs raise their title banner.

"For us, getting better is not necessarily going to show in our numbers," Wade said. "It's going to show in our leadership. It's going to show in those moments where we get in those games like the finals where we're up 10 in the fourth quarter, how do we help our team get that win no matter what's going on in the game. It's moreso that, not just how we score the ball, rebound, pass. We're going to have those numbers. It's the other things."

Last year in training camp, Wade and James wanted to be on separate teams in practice, trying to set a tone for workouts. This year, with an abbreviated training camp and the core of last year's Eastern Conference championship team back, the mano-a-mano matchups haven't happened much, their preference being to keep Miami's first unit together as much as possible to get sharp for the season.

That's fine with James and Wade.

"I'd rather not go against him," James said. "We're two competitors. We go against each other at practice at times. But I've found it's definitely better to have him by my side."

When the Heat got James, the team got a two-time MVP, and both players got - of all things - child-care help.

An interesting perk, for certain, but it's just another tie that binds. James has two sons, Wade has two sons, and the kids are all of relatively similar ages. They hang out often, overnighting and playing together, sometimes going so late that the dads are still a bit sleepy when they arrive for work the next day. It speaks to the level of trust James and Wade have with each other as well.

The way they see it, if you can trust a teammate with your kids, you probably can trust him with the basketball with the game on the line, too.

"There's things we knew from afar," Wade said. "Our moms struggled. We both played this game at a high level. We knew that. But when you're around each other every day, you get to really learn the ins and outs. Things that LeBron deals with sometimes, I'm like, `Oh my God, I got that call yesterday.' It's not a lot of things that you'd see that we have in common. But I understand him. And he understands me."

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LeBron carries load as Heat scorches Pacers

(Reuters) - LeBron James carried the extra load without Dwyane Wade as the Miami Heat recovered from their first loss of the season to crush the Indiana Pacers 118-83 on Wednesday.

 

James just missed a triple-double, posting 33 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds to ensure the Heat (6-1) kept their offense running smoothly while Wade sat out with a nagging foot injury.

"We were able to get a lot of different contributions (from James)," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters.

"He had 13 assists, but a lot of defensive plays and the rebounds in traffic really got us out in the open court in the first half."

Having lost to the Atlanta Hawks two days earlier to end their undefeated start, Miami quickly returned to business as usual.

They buried Indiana with a 33-12 second quarter run sparked by James Jones, who caught fire with a trio of three-pointers in quick succession and finished with 14 points after starting in place of Wade.

Chris Bosh added 22 for the Heat, who continued to pad out their lead and were never threatened by the visitors.

"We just really wanted to focus and play the same game we've been playing, and not slow down because (Wade's) out," Bosh said.

"We wanted to do a better job defensively. It's about time for us to start sticking more to our principles and holding each other accountable."

The Pacers moved within 77-65 late in the third but Miami closed the quarter on an 11-1 run and outscored the visitors 30-17 in the fourth for the final margin.

Roy Hibbert led the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers (4-2) who managed just 34 percent shooting as they fell to their second loss in three games.

Danny Granger made just 2-of-13 shots to continue his shooting slump. Indiana's leading scorer last season with more than 20 points per game, Granger entered the night shooting 36 percent from the field this season.

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LeBron, Durant named NBA Players of the Week

NEW YORK -- The Miami Heat's LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Sunday, Dec. 25, through Sunday, Jan. 1.

James guided the Heat to a 5-0 record to start the season, including an opening-night victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a rematch of the 2011 Finals. James led the league in scoring (29.6 ppg), paced the conference in steals (2.40 spg), and averaged a team high in assists (6.6 apg). James scored 34 or more points on three occasions, including 37 in Miami's 105-94 win at Dallas Dec. 25.

Durant helped the Thunder to a 5-0 start as well, averaging a Western Conference-best 27.4 points (second overall), while shooting .547 from the field and .500 from beyond the arc. Durant opened the 2011-12 campaign with four 30-plus-point performances. He recorded a double-double -- 30 points and 11 rebounds -- in a 104-102 win over the Mavericks Dec. 29.

Here is a recap of the week for James and Durant:

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Dec. 25 @ Dallas: Recorded 37 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 105-94 win at Dallas.

Dec. 28 @ Charlotte: Tallied 35 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals in a 96-95 road victory.

Dec. 30 @ Minnesota: Recorded a 34-point, 10-assist double-double, and added eight assists and four steals in a 103-101 win at Minnesota.

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dec. 25 vs. Orlando: Tallied 30 points, six assists and five rebounds in a 97-89 win over the Magic.

Dec. 28 @ Memphis: Posted 32 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in a 98-95 road victory over the Grizzlies.

Dec. 29 vs. Dallas: Recorded a 30-point, 11-rebound double-double in a 104-102 home win over the Mavericks.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Houston's Kyle Lowry, Indiana's Roy Hibbert, New York's Carmelo Anthony, Minnesota's Kevin Love, Orlando's Dwight Howard and Phoenix's Steve Nash.

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Dwayane Wade crosses 14,000-point mark

MIAMI (AP) -- Heat guard Dwyane Wade has crossed the 14,000-point mark for his career.

Wade is the 25th active NBA player to have that many points. Of those 25, only Wade, Heat teammate LeBron James and New York forward Carmelo Anthony have done so in less than 10 seasons. All three entered the NBA in 2003.

Wade came into Sunday's game against Charlotte needing 13 points to reach the milestone. He scored his 13th and 14th points on a dunk off a long pass from James early in the third quarter.

Wade is Miami's all-time franchise leader in points, assists, steals, field goals made and attempted and free throws made and attempted.

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Dallas Mavericks Raise Their Championship Banner before opener Vs Heat

DALLAS (AP) -- With a tug from Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and others, the Dallas Mavericks unveiled their championship banner minutes before opening this season against the team they knocked off in the NBA finals - LeBron James and the Miami Heat.




The ceremony was supposed to have been held Nov. 1, but the lockout pushed it back. So after waiting until their 31st season to become champions for the first time, the Mavericks and their fans waited another 54 days.

"Thirty-one years you waited - 31 years! - to call your team a champion, ladies and gentlemen," Terry said. "A champion!"

The Heat were in their locker room while clips of last year's postseason were shown, followed by brief comments from NBA Commissioner David Stern, Mavs owner Mark Cuban, coach Rick Carlisle, Terry and Nowitzki.

Nowitzki rocked nervously foot to foot at the start of the ceremony, while Cuban smiled and bit his lip, hands jammed in the pockets of his jeans. Once Cuban received the trophy, he held it above his head and turned slowly for everyone to see. He thanked fans and behind-the-scenes members of the organization, then handed the microphone to Carlisle. He started by naming the two coaches and six players no longer with the team.
"All of these guys will forever be part of Mavs history and the Mavs' family," Carlisle said.

Carlisle then introduced the returning players, all wearing their new warmup outfits featuring the words "2011 NBA Champions" and the trophy logo on the back. Cheers built with each introduction, capped by roars of "M! V! P!" for Nowitzki.

"This is a special, special day for all of us," Nowitzki said.

Franchise founders Don and Linda Carter watched from their usual courtside seats. With straps for everyone to yank, a dark curtain was peeled away, showing off the banner. It features a huge trophy, the team's logo and has the last name of each player printed around the border. The signatures of Cuban and Carlisle are in the two bottom corners.

Before the ceremony, Carlisle said he wanted it to end quickly so the game could begin, and Cuban it would mean more to fans. Judging by the looks on their faces, they were either downplaying their emotions or enjoyed it more than they expected. Carlisle's daughter went on the court with him, and Cuban was later joined by two of his kids.

Nowitzki and Kidd certainly seemed awed as they watched the banner rise to the rafters. They couldn't take their eyes off it - or just didn't want to. It hangs directly over the free throw line on the end of the court in front of the Mavs' bench.

The Mavericks will have one more chance to savor their title - they get their rings later this season. The lockout messed up the timing of that, too, because Cuban wanted to let Nowitzki, Kidd, Terry and Marion help with the design and he wasn't allowed to talk to them while the season was on hold.

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Heat head coach Spoelstra gets contract extension

MIAMI (AP) -- Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat have agreed on a contract extension, ending any speculation that Pat Riley's protege would be a lame-duck coach this season.

Riley, the team president, made the announcement Friday. The Heat typically does not release terms of deals for coaches and executives, and Riley did not divulge any details of Spoelstra's extension. Spoelstra is beginning his fourth season as coach and his 17th season with the team overall.

"We have one of the great young coaches in the league, an absolute member of this family and has been for a long time, so we want him to become a Hall of Famer," Riley said Friday. "So it's been taken care of."

The 41-year-old Spoelstra was not available for immediate comment. The Heat had the day off Friday, and Riley spoke at his annual preseason availability.

Earlier this week, Spoelstra said he did not expect his contract to be a distraction, noting that Riley and the Arison family have never given him any reason to be worried about his status with the organization.

"It's a family here," Spoelstra said, "and I'm part of that."

Riley also addressed his own status with the team, reaffirming that he loves his role in Miami and does not see himself leaving any time soon.

In his first three seasons, Spoelstra has gone 148-98 in regular-season games, 18-15 in playoff games. A year ago, he led the Heat to a 58-24 mark and a 14-7 record in the postseason, where Miami lost the NBA finals to Dallas in six games.

"Me and Erik, our relationship will continue to grow," Heat forward LeBron James said this week. "It's much better today than it was the first day of practice last year. We didn't know each other at all. We were still learning each other. We'd seen each other from a distance. I'd seen him coach from the sideline ... he'd seen me play while he was coaching from the sideline. Our relationship is really good right now. I'm happy with where we are right now."

Riley said the team has been working on Spoelstra's deal "for a while."

Spoelstra came to the Heat in 1995, working his way up from the video room. Spoelstra was particularly close to Stan Van Gundy during his stint in Miami. When Van Gundy stepped down in 2005, Riley took over, and Spoelstra became the heir apparent.

When Riley decided in 2008 that his coaching days were over again, he and Heat owner Micky Arison quickly agreed Spoelstra was the right one for the job. Clearly, that hasn't changed.

"I think he's so much more comfortable his own skin," Riley said. "Contrary to what people might think, I am not a helicopter flying over the top of him all the time. I give him tremendous freedom and space, because I trust the fact that he's in there working every day. He is somebody who is very innovative, and he's not afraid to take some risks."

Riley is a regular onlooker at practice, and he and Spoelstra talk just about every day. But Riley insists the coaching is done by Spoelstra and his staff.

"He does a great job on the bench coming out of timeouts and being prepared for things," Riley said. "And I think the experience last year of also being in the finals and going down to the game that meant the difference in your season and going through that and that pain will help him. I think he's grown leaps and bounds, and he's the perfect coach for this team."

The core of Heat players - James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller and so on - are all under contract for several years to come.

Riley thought it was vital to have their coach be in the same position.

"He never would have been a lame-duck coach even though (media) would have made him one," Riley said. "Guy in the last year in his contract, that wasn't the reason why we did it. The reason why we did it is because we wanted to extend him and keep him in the family and not have somebody come in and steal him away from us. I mean that sincerely ... and I think the players feel the same way."

NOTES: Riley said F Mike Miller was never a candidate to be designated as the team's amnesty player this season. "We want Mike to play for us and make jumpers and help us and just like he did in the playoffs," Riley said. ... His thoughts on the end of last season and what he learned: "What I learned about last year is what I learned about every year that you don't win a championship: You feel misery. That's all."

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Heat's latest additions Battier, Curry arrive in Miami

MIAMI (AP) -- Shane Battier and Eddy Curry were separated by two picks in the 2001 NBA draft. On Saturday, there was a moment when they weren't separated by anything.

The scene: First Miami Heat practice of the season, first day with the team job for both men. Curry sets a screen, and Battier comes crashing into him.

Sounded like a one-sided matchup.

"I won't be doing that again," Battier said afterward. "You hope that he's matured enough to understand that he's got a great opportunity here."

The Heat know that's not an issue for Battier. They hope Curry is willing to come along on the same ride.

All but out of the league for the last three seasons, Curry's contract was completed early Saturday, not long before he, Battier, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Heat took the court for the team's first full practice of training camp. A slew of Miami signees and training-camp hopefuls were in the building Friday getting checked out and deals completed, but only six players were cleared for what became a shooting session disguised as the first workout.

Saturday, the work got real for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

"I feel good," Curry said, his sweat pooling on the floor where he stood and spoke after Miami's practice ended. "Obviously, these guys are at a whole other level here. So I've got some work to do, but I'm willing to do it. I'm a lot closer than what I thought I would be. I feel good, I'm going to give it my all and I'm going to try to help these guys win some games."

The early assessment from Curry's new teammates: He can help. Curry wouldn't say what he weighs - he was last listed at 295 pounds or so - but said he's dropped 70 pounds to get ready for this chance with Miami.

After playing in only 10 games over the past three seasons, the Heat signed Curry for about $1 million, a classic low-risk, maybe-high-reward ploy.

"Obviously, when he was healthy and playing at his peak form, he was a power in the paint," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He really was. ... So that's what this is about. It's about an opportunity. He had a very good day today."

James and Wade have known Curry for years, and much as they reached out to help recruit Battier, they made sure Curry knew they wanted him, too.

"He's humbled and he's blessed to have this opportunity again," James said. "For us as teammates, we're just going to stress the fact that he has no pressure at all. We're happy to have him here and we want him to just love the game of basketball like he did once before. You can see his smile. You can see his passion. And we're happy. We're excited as a team but we're more excited for him."

Excited pretty much sums up what Battier was feeling on the first night teams could contact him as a free agent.

For a team that spoke of upgrading at point guard and center this offseason, their first move was to reach out to someone who plays neither position - and Battier was duly impressed. He's been close with the family of Heat owner Micky Arison for years; Nick Arison, the owner's son and the new Heat CEO, was Duke's team manager when Battier played for the Blue Devils, and they were together for the team's run to the 2001 NCAA title.

Never mind that he once handled Battier's sweaty workout clothes. Nick Arison is now Battier's boss.

"Nick probably has better stories about our shenanigans back at Duke than I can tell you here today," Battier said. "But Nick's been a friend. And I've always respected what Nick has done personally and professionally. When you have a chance to do something special, it's always better - and it always feels more special - when you get to do whatever that journey is with people you enjoy and respect and like."

Battier will earn $9 million over three years. He could have made more money elsewhere, as James, Wade, Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller all could have when they signed deals with Miami last year.

So in that respect, Battier is already fitting into one part of the Heat culture.

"He took a pay cut to be here," Wade said. "That doesn't go unnoticed here in Miami. It might go unnoticed elsewhere, but here in Miami, we appreciate that."

Heat President Pat Riley said that even though other teams could offer Battier more dollars, he thought the combination of being part of a championship-contending club and a reunion with the Arison family would be tough for the former Memphis and Houston swingman to ignore.

In the end, he was right.

"I thought we had a good shot for the reasons that I felt he would want to come here," Riley said. "I thought he would probably want to play on a great team ... an opportunity to win a championship. As he said, a lot of guys will say, `I'd like to go play for a championship,' but they're not talking about role. He's going to have a very specific role here."

Notes: The Heat completed their training camp roster by signing forward Derrick Byars, guards Cameron Jones, Jeremy Wise and Terrel Harris and center Mickell Gladness, who was in Miami's camp a year ago. ... G Eddie House said there's no timetable for his return from surgery on his left knee last month, though he was in practice gear and shooting on Saturday, as was G-F Mike Miller (hernia surgery).

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"Street fighter" LeBron James pushes Heat past Bulls

(Reuters) - LeBron James produced some more fourth-quarter magic to propel the Miami Heat to a scrappy 85-75 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, evening their NBA Eastern Conference final at a game each.

Dead-locked at 73-73 late in the fourth and the Bulls on the charge, James took over, scoring nine of Miami's final 12 points to earn the Heat a split in the Windy City.

The best-of-seven series moves to South Beach for Games Three and Four on Sunday and Tuesday.

James finished with a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds while Dwyane Wade contributed 24 points and nine boards.

Chris Bosh, the other member of the Miami's big three, chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Chicago got 21 points from Derrick Rose but the NBA's most valuable player had little help, Luol Deng the only other member of the Bulls to hit double figures with 13 points.

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James delivers fatal blow as Heat finish off Celtics

(Reuters) - An inspired LeBron James delivered the decisive blow with the last 10 points as the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 97-87 on Wednesday to book their place in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Celtics were expected to represent a major hurdle for the Heat but it was one they cleared with relative ease, winning the best-of-seven series 4-1.

Miami will now sit back and await the winner between Chicago and Atlanta, with the Bulls holding a 3-2 lead in the series.

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder pounded the Memphis Grizzlies 99-72 to seize control of their series 3-2.

After a tight opening quarter that ended 17-17, the Thunder ran away from Memphis leading 46-35 at the half and building a 19-point advantage after three quarters that the Grizzlies could not claw back.

Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 19 points while Daequan Cook had 18 off the bench. Marc Gasol had 15 for the Grizzlies, who will host Game Six on Friday.

Facing elimination, the Celtics battled hard from the tip-off but in the final quarter they had no answer to the Heat's 'Big Three' of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

After Bosh had tied the game at 87-87 with a thundering dunk, James put his stamp on the contest by dropping two three-pointers from the arc.

The twice NBA MVP then added a dunk on a Boston turnover and a layup that touched off wild celebrations at the American Airlines Arena.

"I want to give a lot of credit to the Boston Celtics, that coaching staff and those players, they make you fight for everything," James told reporters.

"You can never take your foot off the gas, you can never take a second off against that team so I have a lot of respect for that team."

STEP CLOSER

Wade paced the Heat with a game-high 34 points and 10 rebounds. James had 33 points added Bosh with 14 as the Big Three once again led the charge, collecting 81 of their team's 97 points.

The Celtics, who held a slim lead through much of the game, were led by 18 points from Ray Allen. Kevin Garnett had 12 points in the opening quarter but was nearly invisible the rest of the game, finishing with 15.

Rajon Rondo, who dislocated his elbow in Game Three, was back on court with a heavily padded left arm but was limited to six points.

The win moved James, Wade and Bosh a big step closer to the NBA title they targeted when they came together in Miami.

"I got the utmost respect for that team," James said.

"They (Celtics) are the reason why all three of us came together, because of what they did, that blueprint they had in '08 when they all came together.

"It's a great team win, now we get ready for our next opponent."

The Celtics got off to a flying start, Garnett dropping 12 points and pulling down five rebounds to stake Boston to a 24-16 lead.

But Wade took the spotlight in the second, finishing the half with 23 points and helping trim the deficit to 49-47 heading into the intermission.

Boston clung to their two-point lead in the third, and padded it to 81-74 early in the fourth quarter but could not hold on as the Heat finished with a 16-0 run to seal the series.

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Miami put heat on Celtics, Thunder level series

(Reuters) - The Miami Heat piled the pressure on bruised and battered Boston by taking a 2-0 lead in their NBA playoff series with a 102-91 victory on Tuesday.

Quicker and more athletic than the veteran Celtics, who were hampered by a series of nagging injuries, the Heat again met the challenge of the defending Eastern Conference champions and have a commanding lead in the best-of-seven second-round series with Game Three set for Saturday in Boston.

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder slowed the inside force of the Memphis Grizzlies in a 111-102 victory that leveled their series 1-1.

Kevin Durant scored 26 points and the Thunder held red-hot Zach Randolph to 2-for-13 shooting as Oklahoma City bounced back from their series-opening loss to the giant-killing Grizzlies.

In Miami, LeBron James took his turn to carry the load with 24 of his game-high 35 points coming in the second half, while Game One standout Dwyane Wade added 28.

"This is a great team we're going against right now," James told reporters. "We're playing as hard as we can defensively and just trying to wear them down throughout the course of the game."

"They made a run but we stuck to our principles and finally wore them down."

With the game tied 80-80 midway through the fourth, the Heat exploded with a 14-0 burst to put the contest out of reach.

Boston's Paul Pierce, who was ejected from the contentious series-opener with two technical fouls in the fourth quarter, returned from a strained left foot but the injury forced him off the court briefly in the first quarter.

Ray Allen also played with a bruised chest following a collision with James in the third.

Rajon Rondo led the way with 20 points and 12 assists for Boston who trailed by five points after both the second and third quarters.

The Celtics will have to regroup at home if they are to take down Miami's "Big Three," who were brought together in the off-season to challenge Boston's supremacy.

Chris Bosh, the Heat's final member of the triumvirate, finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Having allowed 34 points from Memphis's Zach Randolph in Game One, the Thunder restricted him to just 15 points, as they charged to a 28-17 lead after the first quarter and stretched it to 97-76 in the fourth.

Russell Westbrook had 24 points and James Harden put in 21 for the Thunder.

Mike Conley led the way with 24 points for Memphis who will host Game Three on Saturday.

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Heat sizzle against Celtics as Grizzlies maul Thunder

(Reuters) - Dwyane Wade and Miami sent a strong message to their Eastern Conference tormenters the Boston Celtics with a 99-90 victory Sunday that gave the Heat an early edge in the heavyweight second round playoff matchup.

Wade came out firing with 23 of his game-high 38 points in the first half, and LeBron James added 22 to help the Heat grab a 1-0 best-of seven series lead over the Celtics team that knocked each player from last year's post-season.

"Today our shot-makers made shots and that was the story," Wade told reporters after turning around his regular-season struggles against the Celtics this season when he averaged just 12.8 points per game.

"These guys expect this from me. I wasn't giving it to them in the regular season versus them and I wanted to come out and be a leader. (Boston) is never going to quit and we look forward to the challenge."

In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies continued their magical playoff run by mauling the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-101 to draw first blood in their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.

Fresh off a shock first round upset of the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, the eighth-seeded Grizzlies showed no signs of a letdown against the Thunder, grabbing the lead midway through the first quarter and never letting go.

A showdown between the Celtics and Heat has been anticipated ever since James and fellow All Star Chris Bosh joined forces with Wade in the off-season in an attempt to shift Eastern Conference power.

The series opener proved feisty as Boston's Paul Pierce was ejected with two technical fouls in the fourth quarter following a confrontation with Wade.

LATE PUSH

The wily Celtics still managed to make a late push and pulled within eight points with four minutes left after having trailed by as much as 19 in the second half.

But the Heat held off the run with six straight points to move ahead 96-82 with 2:54 left

Ray Allen kept Boston in the game with 25 points, including five three-pointers, and Pierce finished with 19.

James Jones sparked the Heat with five three-pointers and a career playoff-high 25 points but it was Miami's suffocating defense that held Boston to 36 first-half points as the home team took a 15-point lead into the locker room.

Game Two is in Miami on Tuesday.

In Oklahoma City, Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies best player against the Spurs, was again in the spotlight as he hit for a game-high 34 points and 10 rebounds. Spaniard Marc Gasol also contributed a double-double with 20 points and 13 boards.

Kevin Durant, the NBA's scoring champion, had 33 points and 11 rebounds in a losing cause for the Thunder while Russell Westbrook had 29 points.

Memphis led by as much as 16 in the first half and powered ahead 91-74 in the fourth as they eased to another shock victory.

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Heat and Thunder win opening playoff rounds

(Reuters) - The Miami supporting cast helped the Heat survive one final run from the Philadelphia 76ers to hold on for a 97-91 victory on Wednesday that advanced them to the next round of the NBA's playoffs.

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder also advanced after a 100-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets while the San Antonio Spurs escaped elimination with a 110-103 overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Reserve Joel Anthony made two free throws to put Miami up by three with 16 seconds left as the Heat narrowly avoided another fourth-quarter meltdown -- Philadelphia went on a 10-0 run in the final 82 seconds to win Game Four -- to wrap up their best-of-seven series 4-1.

The Heat had allowed a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to be cut to just one on Wednesday but they made nine of their 10 free throws in the final three minutes to ensure they advanced to a second round clash with the Boston Celtics.

"It was very difficult (to finish the series)," Dwyane Wade told reporters after scoring 12 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter. "That team (Philadelphia) is resilient.

"We knew it was going to be that way. That team got us ready for the next round."

Chris Bosh finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds while LeBron James had 16 points, but it was the 20 points the home team got off the bench from Mario Chalmers that proved vital.

Philadelphia's starting lineup had dominated their Miami counterparts throughout the series, outscoring them 78-46 before either side made their first substitutions, which continued on Wednesday as they opened an 11-point lead in the first quarter.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra changed tactics and started the second half with reserves Chalmers and Anthony, with Chalmers' contribution proving invaluable.

The guard made two of this six three-pointers in the third quarter, one of which began a 7-0 run that helped Miami to a 72-67 lead heading into the final period.

Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala scored 22 points each for the 76ers.

In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant carried his team with 41 points as the Thunder erased a nine-point deficit in the final four minutes to clinch the series 4-1 and advance to the next round.

The Thunder went on a 9-0 run to tie the game with 1:50 left, then Durant, the NBA's leading scorer during the regular season, made two free throws to put his team on top 98-97 before adding the clinching jumper.

Denver's Arron Afflalo missed a three-point attempt as time expired. Afflalo finished with a team-high 15 points and Kenyon Martin added 14 and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets.

The Thunder will meet the Spurs or Grizzlies in the next round after San Antonio's Gary Neal made a last-second three-point shot to send their game into overtime.

The Spurs then saved their season by scoring the final seven points of the game to prevail 110-103 and reduce their series deficit to 3-2.

Manu Ginobili scored 33 points and Tony Parker added 24 and nine assists.

The Grizzlies, who had shocked the NBA by putting the WestWesternen Conference top-seeds on the brink of elimination, held a 97-94 lead with less than two seconds to go in regulation when Neal made his shot.

Zach Randolph had 26 points and Mike Conley finished with 20 for Memphis.

Game Six is on Friday in Memphis.

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Boston roll on, Sixers cool off Heat

(Reuters) - The Boston Celtics swept aside the New York Knicks to move ominously into the second round of the playoffs after a 101-89 victory on Sunday.

Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo recorded 21 points and 12 assists and the veteran Celtics completed their 4-0 best-of-seven rout over the Knicks.

Meanwhile, the second seed Miami Heat had their series advantage cut to 3-1, while the Atlanta Hawks took a 3-1 series lead over Orlando and the New Orleans Hornets leveled their match-up at 2-2 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Having reached the NBA Finals in two of the last three seasons, Boston produced a business-like win as they nearly led from start to finish.

The revamped Knicks, who signed All Star Amar'e Stoudemire in the off-season and traded for All Star Carmelo Anthony at mid-season, suffered a disappointing exit from the playoffs.

"They're going to be good," Boston coach Doc Rivers said of the Knicks. "They're just going to be able to keep building. As long as everyone stays patient with them, it will work out."

Anthony finished with 32 points and nine rebounds and New York got 19 and 12 rebounds from Stoudemire who was limited in the series by back spasms that nagged him since Game Two.

Knicks starting point guard Chauncey Billups also injured his knee in Game Two and was sidelined for the rest of the series.

Miami attempted to punch its ticket to the second round but was stalled by Philadelphia 76ers who pulled off a gritty 86-82 win to avoid a first round sweep.

Philadelphia's Lou Williams had 17 and made the go-ahead three-pointer with eight seconds for the winning margin while LeBron James scored 31 and Dwyane Wade had 22 for the Heat.

Game Five is Wednesday in Miami.

In New Orleans, Jarrett Jack made a clutch jumper to put the home team up four with nine seconds left, and Chris Paul had a triple-double of 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds as the Hornets outlasted the Lakers in a 93-88 win.

Kobe Bryant, who exchanged words with Paul throughout the testy affair, shook off a slow start and a sore ankle to finish with 17 points and eight assists.

Los Angeles stayed close but never led in the second half and will try to regain control of the series in Game Five on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Atlanta led Orlando by as much as 16 in the second quarter, but still had to hold on late to fend off the Magic in an 88-85 win.

Orlando forward Hedo Turkoglu missed a three-pointer attempt at the buzzer to seal his team's fate as the Magic wasted Dwight Howard's dominance of 29 points and 17 rebounds.

Jamal Crawford had 25 points off the bench to lead the Hawks who will try to close the series in Game Five on Tuesday.

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Fans chant "MVP!" for Heat's unsung Joel Anthony

MIAMI (Reuters) - On a night when the Miami's 'Big Three' shined as the Heat crushed the Philadelphia 76ers 94-73, it was one of the team's lesser lights that earned the playoff plaudits in Monday's Game Two of the Eastern Conference first round.

Burly center Joel Anthony's name doesn't feature on the back of many jerseys at the American Airlines Arena but when he stepped up to take a free throw, fans clad in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade shirts began chanting "MVP, MVP!"

It was no suggestion the Canadian should be considered for the league's top individual award, but rather a message that all the quality and excitement brought by James, Wade and Chris Bosh would count for much less without the hard-working physical commitment brought by the 28-year-old.

"Joel? He was simply outstanding," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, the first of many to praise his impressive defensive display and work-rate.

"We have always valued Joel Anthony more than a lot of other teams would I think. He is arguably the hardest worker we've ever had in this organization. His success on the court is a direct residual of what he puts in, the sweat that he puts in.

"He put in a lot, erasing a lot of mistakes and stepping up to the challenge one-on-one."

Anthony is in his fourth season in Miami and his first three went by largely unnoticed.

It was only the deal he was awarded in the last off-season -- $18 million over five seasons -- that brought scrutiny.

Spending plenty of minutes on court with the Heat's much-hyped trio, Anthony initially felt a little uncomfortable in such company.

However, he has become at home in his role as destroyer-in-chief, particularly in the past six weeks as the Heat finished the regular season strongly to secure the second seed.

"With Joel, its about confidence," said James.

"Maybe in the course of the year he lacked a bit of that confidence in himself and his ability -- but he's grown, he's done a great job with his role.

"He is a real presence at the rim that we need, he makes people change their shot and I can hear them saying, 'where's he coming from?' He's athletic and he is determined."

Andrea Iguodala of the 76ers, who shot just 34.2 percent from the field, had no doubt that Anthony had a big part to play in an outstanding Miami defense.

"You have to give a lot of credit to Joel Anthony -- he gives a lot to that team that doesn't always show up on the stat sheet -- he cleans it up," he said.

Anthony's four points and six rebounds would hardly grab attention but he spent more than 26 minutes on the court blocking routes, closing down opponents and tidying things up.

Team mate Bosh enjoyed the chant from the crowd and said it could only help the man from Montreal.

"It's funny but it's good for his confidence," he said.

"We know he's not going to get the MVP, I'm not going to get the MVP, but it's the fans showing their support and he deserves that."

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Heat scorch Celtics to earn control of second seed

(Reuters) - LeBron James and the Miami Heat took firm control of the Eastern Conference's second seed with a crushing 100-77 triumph over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Using a smothering defensive effort that held Boston to 37 second-half points, the Heat (56-24) moved one game in front of Boston with two games remaining to give them inside position on home-court advantage in a potential second-round playoff series between the two teams.

James had a game-high 27 points and seven assists while Dwyane Wade added 14 points as the two All-Star players earned their first victory of the season against a team that has haunted them over the past few postseasons.

The Celtics (55-25) have knocked James out of the playoffs in two of the last three years while vanquishing Wade's Heat team in the first round last year.

"They are a really good team, we came out with a lot of energy and effort and it was really good to get a win," James told reporters. "We know it starts defensively. Anytime someone was beaten we stepped over and continued to fly around.

"When we defend at a high level we're tough to beat."

Paul Pierce scored a team-high 24 points and Kevin Garnett recorded 21 but Boston continued their step backward since parting ways with starting center Kendrick Perkins at the February trading deadline.

The Celtics, who have lost 10 of their last 19 games, will enter the playoffs looking decidedly different than the team that reached the NBA Finals in two of the past three seasons.

Boston jumped out to an early advantage over Miami in the first quarter but the Heat rallied to take a seven-point lead at halftime and expanded their edge from there.

Chris Bosh chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds for Miami who out-rebounded the Celtics 42-26 on the day.

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Bosh, Wade push Heat past Spurs

(AP)  MIAMI – Chris Bosh scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade scored 29 as the Miami Heat avenged their worst loss of the season by rolling past the NBA-leading Spurs 110-80 on Monday.

LeBron James finished with 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Heat, who have won three straight and moved within two games of Eastern Conference front-runners Boston and Chicago. Miami lost 125-95 in San Antonio on March 4, the midpoint of a five-game slide that now seems all but forgotten after wins over the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and now the Spurs.

Tony Parker scored 18 points and Tim Duncan added 14 for the Spurs, who had won 15 of their last 18 against Miami.  

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Wade in heat of things, bombs Grizzlies

MIAMI – Dwyane Wade had 28 points and nine assists and LeBron James scored 27 points while taking the fourth quarter off as the Miami Heat ran away early to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 118-85, in the NBA on Saturday.

Wade also had five blocks, four of them in a 55-second span of the opening quarter. The 33-point victory margin was Miami’s largest this season.

Chris Bosh scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Heat, who closed within 2 1-2 games of Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Mike Bibby added 17 for Miami on a 5-for-5 effort from 3-point range.

O.J. Mayo scored 19 for Memphis, which dropped its second straight.

In Atlanta, Jeff Teague matched a career high with 24 points and Jamal Crawford added 20 as Atlanta ended a four-game losing streak with a 91-82 victory over Portland.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points and Wesley Matthews had 19 for Portland.

The Hawks were without starting center Al Horford because of a sprained ankle and reserve forward Josh Powell, who was arrested before the game on traffic charges not far from the Atlanta arena.

In Washington, Blake Griffin scored all of his 26 points in the first half as Los Angeles defeated Washington, 122-101.

Griffin topped the Wizards’ John Wall in the matchup between the last two No. 1 picks in the NBA draft. Wall finished with 25 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Eric Bledsoe added a career-high 23 points for the Clippers, who have won five of their six games this month. In Milwaukee, Andrew Bogut scored 17 points and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had 14 points, 12 rebounds and five steals to lift Milwaukee past Philadelphia, 102-74.

Brandon Jennings scored 15 points, Keyon Dooling added 13 and Carlos Delfino had 12 for the Bucks, who won their third straight game, matching their season-best winning streak.

Lou Williams scored 16 points for the Sixers, who had 21 turnovers. Jodie Meeks added 13 points and Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala had 10 apiece for Philadelphia.

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