Gotta run!.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade was in the starting lineup
against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night after being considered a
game-time decision with a sore left foot.

Wade tested his foot both at the team’s morning shootaround and before the
game to determine if he was ready to play. The injury bothered him in the game
at Charlotte on Wednesday, but not enough to prevent him from making the
game-winning shot to keep the Heat undefeated.

For the Timberwolves, veteran guard J.J. Barea missed the game with a
strained right hamstring. Barea hopes to return Sunday against the Dallas
Mavericks, his former team.

Second-round draft pick Malcolm Lee had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in
his left knee on Friday. He is expected to miss six weeks.

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The air of invincibility that had permeated the Miami Heat’s first two games was absent at the start. In its place was a quick 11-0 deficit.

Dwyane Wade then was absent at the start of the second half with a foot injury.

Gone, but not forgotten.

Regaining his legs, or at least enough of them, Wade banked in a short shot with 2.9 seconds to play to close out the scoring in a 96-95 victory on Wednesday night over the Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It was a somewhat surprising finish, one achieved after a Gerald Henderson three-pointer with 12.2 seconds to play had put the Bobcats up by one, because it was Wade who was designated as the go-to guy on a night LeBron James led the Heat with 35 points.

Wade, who had bruised his left foot and missed the first 10 minutes of the third period, was four of 12 from the field before his game-winner.

“When he called it,” Wade said of coach Erik Spoelstra’s instructions, “I was surprised, because LeBron had it going.”

Wade, in fact, was about to tell Spoelstra that it should be James’ play, then decided he was up to the moment.

Barely, with his left foot throbbing.

“I had no lift,” the veteran guard said, “that’s why I shot-putted it.”

For most of the night, it appeared the Heat had no lift, falling behind by 16 in the first half, then losing Wade at the start of the third quarter.

But there was enough in support to push the record to 3-0, from James, who also had seven assists and six rebounds, to 25 points on eight-of-13 shooting from forward Chris Bosh, to a needed 15-point outing from point guard Mario Chalmers and lockdown defense from Shane Battier in his longest outing of the season.

“You’ve got to win some of these games ugly,” Spoelstra said. “We settled down.”

The Heat held the Bobcats to 10 third-quarter points to get back into it and then rode the aggression of Bosh and James in the fourth until Wade had his moment.

Wade’s moment came after both he and James botched dunks, although James’s attempt should have counted since it bounced off Gerald Henderson’s head and back out after clearing the rim. James joked he would appeal to the league for his lost points.

But with the game on the line, it was Wade’s to win or lose.

Spoelstra said it was not because of Wade’s clutch reputation or James’s fourth-quarter struggles that had carried over to this season, but rather because he saw an opening on the same set that seconds earlier had resulted in a Wade turnover.

“We saw him able to put the ball on the floor,” Spoelstra said. “He had a rough night at times, but he saw a gap he could get into.”

The game ended with a missed three-point attempt by Bobcats guard D.J. Augustin.

“It’s good to see us show some resolve, some toughness,” Spoelstra said.

That resolve and toughness arrived when needed most.

“The first half,” James said, “wasn’t Miami Heat basketball.”

The Heat entered having trailed just 14 seconds this season. That figure grew exponentially, with Charlotte bolting to that 11-0 lead, moving ahead 32-20 after the first quarter and 60-45 at halftime.

Playing on the second night of their first back-to-back set of the season, the Heat hardly had the legs that powered a dazzling transition attack in the season-opening victories over the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.

With Wade out at the start of the third quarter, James decided it had to be his style of basketball, consistently attacking the rim.

“I decided to add a little bit more,” he said, continuing his torrid scoring start to the season.

In the end, though, he stood aside, waiting and watching Wade win it.

“I guess,” James said with a grin, “that’s why they pay him the big bucks.”

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In Photo: Dwyane Wade elevates for a clear shot against Charlottes’ Bismack Biyombo, while the Heat’s Udonis Haslem and the Bobcats’ Byron Mullens look on. (AP)

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The Miami Heat won their third game in four days, walking away with the 96-95 victory against the Charlotte Bobcats on Dec. 28.

The Heat’s tough schedule finally started catching up to them. Miami’s players looked a step slower during the game, but they did manage to turn things around down the stretch.

Charlotte came out firing on all cylinders, outscoring the Heat by 12 points in the first quarter. The Heat played better in the second quarter, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Bobcats from adding three more points to their lead.

Whatever Erick Spoelstra told his players during the halftime break definitely worked, as the Heat came out strong in the third quarter, frustrating the Bobcats with their stifling defense. Miami finally took their first lead of the game, halfway through the fourth quarter. Both teams traded buckets from that point on, but Dwyane Wade stepped up to the plate in the final seconds of the game, kissing the ball off the backboard and giving the Heat a one point lead.

LeBron James had another monstrous performance for the Heat, finishing the game with 35 points (game high), 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Chris Bosh was right behind LeBron, putting up 25 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks against the Bobcats. Miami also got a nice boost from Mario Chalmers, who had 15 points and 4 assists against Charlotte.

Dwyane Wade on the other hand had a relatively quiet game, leaving with 10 points and 4 assists, but he did make the most important shot of the day.

Miami’s bench didn’t have their best performance of the season, finishing with a combined 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Heat will get a day off, before visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 30. The Timberwolves have struggled in their first two games of the season (going 0-2), and the Heat should be able to get their fourth straight win against them.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 15 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.

Sources:

Player and game information from ESPN.com

More from the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Wade expects other NBA teams to copy Miami Heat

Miami Heat Rookie Norris Cole Prepares for 2011/12 Season

Erik Spoelstra Signs Contract Extension with the Heat

Miami Heat Smashes Magic in Preseason Opener

Miami Heat Ruins Mavericks’ Championship Party

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Gotta run!.

- (Reuters) – The Miami Heat gained a little revenge for their loss in last year’s NBA finals, by spoiling the Dallas Mavericks‘ championship celebration with a resounding 105-94 victory on Sunday’s opening day of the season.

LeBron James was on fire as Miami ran away with the game, taking a 97-65 lead after three quarters, before allowing Dallas, who never led, to make the score respectable in the fourth.

The game was part of a five-game Christmas opening day to the delayed and reduced 66-game regular season, after the five month lockout during the dispute between players and owners over a new collective contract.

The Heat had to wait in their locker room as the Mavericks raised their championship banner minutes before the start of the game as Dallas players, wearing “2011 NBA Champions” on the back of their tracksuits, celebrated.

But when the game got underway, finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki and team-mates Jason Kidd and Jason Terry were swept aside by an impressive Heat, who showed exactly why they are the favorites for the title this season.

James scored 37 points and had 10 rebounds and six assists while Dwyane Wade contributed 26 points with eight rebounds and six assists, as the Heat‘s two biggest names offered an early reminder of their quality.

The pattern for the game was set in the first quarter with Miami establishing a 32-17 lead while Dallas had more turnovers than rebounds.

Dallas looked to be missing the defensive influence of Tyson Chandler, who they traded to the Knicks, and their biggest off-season arrival, Lamar Odom from the Los Angeles Lakers, was ejected in the third quarter and ended with just four points and four rebounds.

Miami began with the same starting line-up that ended Game Six of last season’s finals but gave first round draft pick Norris Cole an early chance and he impressed.

The Heat looked improved an a number of areas with Udonis Haslam now back to full fitness and free agent signing Shane Battier making his debut.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

There is the quick update of the day.

MIAMI (AP)—A season ago, it was all different for the Miami Heat.

The team needed a police escort to their annual media day in 2010, with
security lurking around just about every hallway inside the facility. Reporters
from four continents showed up. Press conferences to start the year were held in
a cavernous auditorium at the University of Miami.

On Monday, it was business as usual for the Heat. There’s less of a circus
atmosphere around the team, and for that, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris
Bosh are thankful.

Still, expectations remain sky-high. Bosh noted on Monday that “there’s
nothing left for us to do” but get back to the NBA finals and win them this
time.

What are your opinions.

Miami Heat rookie Norris Cole(notes) wants to be one of the team’s rotation players, and the 23 year old guard is already putting in some work. Norris arrived at the Heat’s practice facility earlier in the week, and he’s eager to get his NBA career started.

“Mentally you just have to be prepared for the worst,” Cole told reporters after his first practice with the team. “There’s going to be a lot of things thrown at me, but with me being in college for four years, I think I have a quick learning curve. I’m mature enough to be able to handle criticism. As long as we work hard and earn the respect of the veterans, I think everything will be fine. This team was already good without me being here. With me having a quick learning curve, [the] only thing I can do is make us better”

The Heat selected Cole in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft, and he certainly has the skills needed to succeed in the NBA. Cole put up some impressive numbers in his final year with the Cleveland State Vikings, averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

Cole’s ability to drain the long ball—34.2 percent from three point range in the 2010/11 season—also played a role in the Heat’s decision to draft him.

It’s no secret LeBron James(notes) and Dwyane Wade(notes) will be double-teamed a lot during the 2011/12 season, and Cole will certainly get his share of open looks. He seems to be perfect fit for the Heat, and I won’t be surprised to see him get significant playing time as the 2011/12 season progresses.

Cole’s personality also seems to fit with the rest of the Heat’s players, and he has the attitude a championship caliber team would want in their young rookie. Cole comes off as a hardworking young player, and that usually pays dividends on the court.

With superstars like LeBron and Wade to show the way, it’s up to Norris to decide how good he wants to be in the NBA.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 15 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.

Sources:

Tom Haberstroh, “Norris Cole arrives to Heat workouts”

Player and game information from ESPN.com

More from the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Wade expects other NBA teams to copy Miami Heat

LeBron James keeping busy with summer league play

Dwyane Wade happy with Heat’s 2010-11 performance

Top five small forwards in the NBA right now

Ilgauskas announces retirement from NBA

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Leave your comments on the news below.

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Just because the Miami Heat can’t hold official team practices these days, doesn’t mean the squad’s biggest stars can’t work out together. The Sun-Sentinel looks into week-long workouts between LeBron, DWade, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem: “Tuesday, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem completed a week of workouts at Nike’s Beaverton, Ore., campus. The four are expected to also participate at each of the four stops on the upcoming ‘Homecoming Tour’ of NBA lockout charity games that begins with an event hosted by James Dec. 1 at the University of Akron. The workouts came in the wake of James spending time in London, where he granted an interview with The Guardian that included his views on where he and the Miami Heat are headed after coming up two victories shy of a championship in last season’s NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. ‘I’ve got years left in my career to build, I guess, my individual legacy, if that’s what they want to call it,’ James, 26, said in the interview. ‘But, right now, it’s all about building my team’s legacy. How can we continue to get better and to approach the game in the right way during a championship playoff. One year in, we gave ourselves a chance and we’re looking forward to the next one. For me, I just want to give myself the best opportunity to win games.’”

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MIAMI - 

The Miami Heat’s seven-time All Star Dwyane Wade has travelled the world during the NBA lockout but says he cannot wait to return to the court and get the lingering ‘itch’ of his team’s defeat in last season’s finals out of his system.

Wade got back from a business trip to Australia on Thursday after spending time in Milan and Paris and touring China — all of which he found rewarding.

However, nothing would please him more than a trip back to the court at the Heat’s American Airlines Arena, especially with last year’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the championship finals still burning.

“No one knows if you are going to be successful, that is part of being an athlete, getting so high and going so down and trying to get back up, that is part of it,” Wade told Reuters.

“That burning desire to get back and to try and compete, that itch that’s inside of us, is still there.

“On the outside of the flesh, yes (it eases), but on the inside it never goes away. You have to move on, you have to continue to do different things.”

“But on the inside it burns you, at least until you get the opportunity to do it again,” said Wade, who was speaking at the launch of his new ‘Hublot King Power Dwyane Wade’ watch.

That opportunity — for the big three of Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh — to get back on court and start their second bid for an NBA title, has been delayed by the protracted labour dispute between the players’ union and the league’s owners.

“It’s frustrating,” Wade said. “Every player wants to get back on the court and play, for whatever reasons they have.

“I am sure that every player on the Miami Heat can’t wait to get back and try to get back to the place where we were last year, have success and hopefully get back to the finals where we can better ourselves — that is our goal and I am sure every player has been thinking that all summer.

“We got this close and couldn’t pull it out and that makes you hungry, it makes you want to get back out there again.”

The lockout has already led to all of November’s regular season games being wiped out and there is the risk of further cancellations.

Wade sees one positive in the prolonged negotiations between the two sides — at least they are still talking.

“I can’t say I’m optimistic, I can’t say I’m down on it, I am kind of even-keel with it,” the 29-year-old said. “Sometimes it goes up and it seems we might have a deal and then it blows up and it seems far away.

“When they are talking till one in the morning or whatever it is and then meeting the next day, that’s always a positive. At least we are getting face to face and trying to hash out a deal and hopefully the fans see that and appreciate that.”

As well as having even longer to stew over the way last season ended, Wade has had to work out away from the team set-up just like other NBA players.

While the 2006 championship winner has no trouble motivating himself, he says nothing beats the feeling of working with team mates.

“I prefer being around them,” Wade added. “We can all work out on our own but nothing is like playing with the talent that there is in the NBA, nothing is like playing in an NBA game.

“I don’t care how much you train before the season starts, you aren’t going to be NBA ready.

“That has been one of the unfortunate things that we have had to deal with throughout this whole lockout, not being around the team, not being able to train with the people that we are used to and trying to figure it out on your own.”

Gotta run!.

Perhaps it is best the season decided to wait until Dwyane Wade had his cathartic radio conversation with Mike Krzyzewski.

Because this way the issue can be addressed and we can move on.

In summing up the Miami Heat’s less-than-satisfying finish to 2010-11, Wade this past week told the Duke coach, “we wanted to win to spite people.”

During the appearance on SiriusXM Radio, Wade added, “I believe that’s the reason we didn’t win a championship.”

No.

No. No. No. No. No.

While no one is enjoying the lockout, at least coach Erik Spoelstra now has the advantage of arriving to training camp, whenever it opens, aware of such thought process.

For as much of a circus as last season was, with its wall-to-wall media coverage, the Heat did not lose the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks because of “spite.”

They lost because LeBron James turned into Henry James (the forward from the ’90s, not the novelist) over the final four games against the Mavericks.

They lost because they never truly found answers at point guard or center.

They lost because Brian Cardinal landed a hip check on Wade in Game 5.

They lost because they mocked Dirk’s flu but couldn’t stop Nowitzki on a pair of decisive drives to the basket.

But they didn’t lose because of any “Heat Index” or Dan Gilbert screed or any of the other supposed narratives regarding enmity, lack of respect, mockery.

Recall that at the beginning of the season the Heat insisted they embraced the attention, ready to prove the naysayers wrong. Then came a few losing streaks along the way and a healthy dose of external I-told-you-sos.

But they also moved past that, as they surgically moved past the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs. Not out of spite, but out of superiority. Or at least we thought they moved past that.

In 2006, when the Heat took the Finals from the Mavericks, fingers were pointed at Avery Johnson for getting outcoached by Pat Riley. Johnson certainly did seem to put way too much focus on Shaquille O’Neal instead of Wade. But no matter the perception, the Mavericks lost that series because of what transpired on the court, perhaps because Dirk simply wasn’t ready or beaten down enough yet.

Similarly, an argument could be made that Rick Carlisle outperformed Spoelstra last June. With rotation adjustments, play calls, matchups. The move to Mario Chalmers as the Heat’s starting point guard for the sixth and final game of the series made it clear that basketball decisions were determining the outcome.

Yes, emotion remains a significant part of the process, particularly over the grind that is the regular season. And the Heat had their share of ups and downs on their well-chronicled ride to Finals failure.

But the last thing Wade, James and Chris Bosh should be carrying into their next season is any misapprehension that “spite” ultimately determined last season.

The Pat Riley motivational madness that had P.J. Brown flipping Charlie Ward over the end line is gone. There were no “15 Strong” cards in the locker room last postseason. Those are tricks that are necessary when talent, alone, isn’t enough.

Now, the talent should be more than enough.

IN THE LANE

GRACE PERIOD: Among the evolving elements of the proposed new collective-bargaining agreement is the “amnesty” program that allows teams to discard one contract from salary-cap and luxury-tax obligations. The latest update is that, unlike after the 1998 lockout, the decision will not have to be made immediately. For the Heat, that is a helpful element when it comes to Mike Miller, who could yet again receive another final chance to prove he can remain in one piece. By having the ability to wait until after 2011-12 (if there is a 2011-12) to decide on Miller, the Heat can get a better read on Miller’s offseason shoulder and thumb surgeries. There should be a sneak peak next Sunday, with Miller scheduled to participate in Dwight Howard’s lockout charity game at the University of Central Florida, playing on a team of Magic alumni. For those who forget, the Heat’s amnesty cut in 1999 was Wesley Person.

NOT SO B-EASY: That public-relations firm that former Heat first-round pick Michael Beasley hired to reshape his image? Essentially, it fired him after less than three weeks on the job. In the wake of a lawsuit and countersuit focusing on possible payments made to Beasley amid his climb to the pros, in the wake of a Beasley “all-star” event outside of Minneapolis that failed to attract any actual All-Stars, and in the wake of Beasley calling NBA labor negotiations “kind of retarded,” the Minnesota Timberwolves forward once again is left to attempt to reclaim his image on his own. “He was just not a good fit for our firm,” S&S Associates’ Tonya Payton told CBSSports.com, essentially mimicking what Pat Riley said 15 months earlier.

READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL: In the middle of NBA lockout apocalypse what exactly is LeBron James doing? Helping you set your Sunday fantasy lineups, of course. While Heat teammate Dwyane Wade and Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan were at center stage on the lockout front Friday, James took to Twitter to rate the NFL’s elite. The official LBJ ratings? At quarterback: “1.Aaron Rodgers 2. Tom Brady 3. Drew Brees 4. Mike Vick 5. Cam Newton.” At wide receiver: “1. Megatron [Calvin Johnson] 2. Andre Johnson 3. Steve Smith (Car) 4. Larry Fitz[gerald] 5. Mike Wallace.” At running back: “1.AP [Adrian Peterson] 2. Arian Foster 3. LeSean McCoy 4. Matt Forte (Pay him please!) 5. Ray Rice.”

FROM DOWN UNDER: The D-League dynamic will be particularly odd this season, with the Heat not allowed to send any of their players to their Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce affiliate amid the lockout, not even first-round pick Norris Cole. The Skyforce nonetheless open camp next Saturday and their season Nov. 25. The team, which also serves as an affiliate for the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves, released its camp roster Friday, with former Heat training-camp prospect Anthony Mason Jr., the son of the former New York Knicks forward, and former Southern Cal guard Gabe Pruitt the most recognizable names. The rest of the roster: CoCo Cofield, Dominique Coleman, Josh Edmonds, Brian Evans, Charles Garcia, Brock Gillespie, Billy McShepard, Casey Mitchell, Anthony Moody, Will Pratt, Dominique Scales, Greg Stiemsma, Latroy Taylor and Eric Tisby.

NUMBER

7. Exhibition appearances for LeBron James amid the lockout, with an upcoming Tuesday date in Memphis the latest stop.

iwinderman@tribune.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat.

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The Miami Heat’s “Big Three” have rejoined forces  – albeit for opposing teams – to host “The South Florida All-Star Classic,” a charity game on Oct. 8, in Miami.

Florida International University will play host to a star-studded event with all proceeds going toward a South Florida charity. 

In addition to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, a litany of stars including Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and many, many others will compete in a matchup headlined by Brand Jordan vs. Nike players. 

They’ve even gotten comedian Kevin Hart and rap star Rick Ross to coach the opposing squads.

This may be the most star-powered barnstorming game yet and should immediately sell out the 5,000-seat U.S. Century Bank Arena.

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

Thanks for reading! .

Read More: Nene Hilario (C – DEN), Chris Bosh (F – MIA), LeBron James (F – MIA), Dwyane Wade (G – MIA), Denver Nuggets

Might the Denver Nuggets’ Nene join LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami once the current NBA lockout ends? Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald speculates that the Miami Heat will make a phone call to Nene’s agent once the lockout ends to see if they can entice the talented center to move to South Beach.

Jackson doesn’t believes it’s a good possibility since the Heat can only offer a $6 million mid-level exemption–if that’s in the new collective bargaining agreement. Still, the allure of playing with three high-profile players and a chance at an NBA championship could prove strong.

As Nate Timmons writes over at Denver Stiffs:

Sure, Nene could probably sign a two or three year deal in Denver and give it one last shot before chasing a title in the twilight of his car[e]er, but why not go for it while you could still be a key cog for a team that will definitely be right in the thick of things out East.

Nene might not want to stick around in Denver while they rebuild over the next couple of years. Without Carmelo Anthony on the team any longer, we’ll need to see if the Nuggets can make the playoffs during a full season without him.

For more on the Nuggets, please visit Denver Stiffs.

That’s all the news for today.