Wade hits game-winner on LeBron's birthday, Heat remains unbeaten

Dec 31, 2011, 6:37 GMT

Los Angeles - LeBron James celebrated his 27th birthday by scoring 34 points, and hit Dwyane Wade with a perfect lob pass out of a timeout for the game-winner with 4.6 seconds left, as the Miami Heat escaped with a 103-101 road victory over the stubborn Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Chris Bosh netted 20 points and Wade added 19, including his second consecutive game-winner for Miami, which opened the season at 4-0 for just the second time in franchise history.

Kevin Love collected 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Spanish rookie sensation Ricky Rubio contributed 12 points with 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who dropped to 0-3 on the season.

Backup centre Ian Mahinmi scored a career-high 19 points, German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki added 18 and the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks (1-3) won their first game of the season, topping the visiting Toronto Raptors, 99-86.

Andrea Bargnani led Toronto with a game-high 30 points.

Jermaine O'Neal scored 19 points and Paul Pierce added 12 in his season debut after missing the first three contests with a sore right heel, as the Boston Celtics won their first game of the season, dominating the visiting Detroit Pistons, 96-85.

Greg Monroe had a game high 22 points for the Pistons, who opened the season at 0-3 under new coach Lawrence Frank.

Elsewhere: the Orlando Magic skinned the host Charlotte Bobcats, 100-79; the Indiana Pacers upended the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, 98-91 in overtime; the Atlanta Hawks clipped the visiting New Jersey Nets, 105-98; the visiting Phoenix Suns eclipsed the New Orleans Hornets 93-78; the Memphis Grizzlies roared past the visiting Houston Rockets, 113-93.

Also, the Milwaukee Bucks bounced the visiting Washington Wizards, 102-81; the Utah Jazz edged the visiting Philadelphia 76ers, 102-99 and the Chicago Bulls-LA Clippers, 114-101.