MIAMI -- Each of the last two Miami championship runs has been highlighted by moments where a sharpshooter enters a game and immediately provides a surprise spark. [url=http://www.coltsfansshop.com/Colts-Adam-Vinatieri-Draft-Jersey/]Ada m Vinatieri Jersey[/url] . James Jones got his turn Sunday. And t

MIAMI -- Each of the last two Miami championship runs has been highlighted by moments where a sharpshooter enters a game and immediately provides a surprise spark. Adam Vinatieri Jersey . James Jones got his turn Sunday. And the lift he brought, combined with the expected playoff showings from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, have the Heat off and running in these playoffs. James scored 27 points, Wade added 23 and the Heat rode two big runs -- one late in the first half, the other down the stretch -- to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 99-88 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Miami trailed for much of the first half, but rallied and has now topped Charlotte 17 straight times. "We were flat to start," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think our guys were just anxious." Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday. Al Jefferson will be getting plenty of treatment until then. Kemba Walker scored 20 points for the Bobcats, who started fast behind Jefferson -- who was diagnosed with a strained left plantar fascia after a misstep in the first quarter, and got a pair of injections just to continue playing. "We did some really good things today," Walker said. "We just have to keep executing throughout the game. We cant get rattled." Jefferson still finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds -- yet in what cant be a real exciting sign for Charlotte, he left the arena in a walking boot. "Just got to suck it up, man," said Jefferson, who confessed that hes no fan of needles but insisted he doesnt plan on sitting out. Gary Neal scored 17 and Josh McRoberts added 15 for Charlotte, which shot only 12 free throws compared to 26 by Miami, and allowed the Heat to turn their 15 turnovers into 20 points. "If were going to have 15 turnovers, were not going to win," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said. Miami sealed it with an 18-4 run in the fourth, all but three of those points coming with James getting a rest. Luke Ridnour made a high-arcing baseline jumper over Ray Allen with 10:29 left to get Charlotte within 74-69. Thats when James got a breather. He returned to breathing room. Chris Andersen had a tip-in for a 12-point lead, Wade -- who shot 10 for 16 -- made a 3-pointer as the shot clock was winding down with 6:50 left to make it 85-70, and another score by Andersen pushed the margin to 17. With that, Game 1 was secure. "That group that was in once I took that break at the 10-minute mark in the fourth quarter, they just bumped the lead," James said. "Obviously, to have three Hall of Famers in the game when Im out of the game, CB, D-Wade and Ray ... that was big-time." So was Jones. He didnt play in the first half of any playoff game last season and was out of the rotation much of this year. But when he checked in with 4:19 left in the half Sunday, Miami led 35-34. "Hell of a spark," Wade said. Before long, it was 47-36, Jones scoring four of those late as Miami was wrapping up a 19-2 run. He added five more in the third, and his 3-pointer with 10:08 left kickstarted what became the game-deciding spurt down the stretch. "When youre dressed, youre expected to perform," Jones said. Two years ago, it was Mike Miller giving a lift to the Heat in that off-the-bench role. Last year, it was Miller and Shane Battier sharing those honours. Miller is in Memphis now, Battier is out of the rotation, and that means a door may be opening for Jones. "Hes going to be a very, very key ingredient to our success," James said. Charlotte had four players making their first playoff starts. It was also the first national-television appearance this season for the Bobcats, who seemed anything but overwhelmed by the moment. Walker made a 3-pointer to beat the first-half buzzer, drawing Charlotte within 49-42. That started an 11-0 run by the Bobcats, who scored the first eight of the third quarter to reclaim a one-point lead. And the third stayed close, neither team leading by more than three for the majority of the third. But the Heat closed strong behind Jones and James, who made a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left for a 72-65 Miami lead entering the fourth. NOTES: With his final point, James passed Larry Bird for No. 8 on the leagues all-time playoff scoring list. ... Miami is 61-8 over the last three seasons when making at least 10 3-pointers. ... Charlotte was returning home after the game, taking advantage of the long break before Game 2. Malik Hooker Jersey . -- Darrelle Revis says at least 26 teams called after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Marvin Harrison Jersey .Y. - Through three quarters, the Brooklyn Nets could not shake the NBAs worst team. http://www.coltsfansshop.com/Colts-Christine-Michael-Sr-Draft-Jersey/ . Bale has had a successful debut season in Spain, and Ancelotti appears ready to reward him with a starting role on Saturday. Ancelotti says "Gareth had some problems at the beginning (of the season) but when he found good physical condition he scored a lot of goals, he had a good impact on the team.ST. LOUIS - It was the perfect way for the St. Louis Blues to glide into an extended All-Star break. Lots of positive energy with nine days between games.Weve been rolling and we wanted to keep it going, forward Alexander Steen said after the Blues dominated at both ends of a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. Tonight I think was probably our best game this year, from goalie out.Jaden Schwartz had a goal and assist and Brian Elliott needed to make just 17 saves, although he had to be sharp at times. Elliott leads the NHL with a 1.86 goals-against average and is fourth with a .930 save percentage.You try to be big, big in net and get us through the first little wave, Elliott said. And the guys take care of the rest. As you saw, the second and third period we did the things we always do and thats a good sign.T.J. Oshie also scored and defenceman Carl Gunnarsson got his second goal of the season for the Blues. St. Louis has scored in a season-best eight consecutive games, going 7-0-1 in that stretch.Theyre two points behind Central Division-leading Nashville, although the Predators have played two fewer games. They dont play again until wrapping up a seven-game homestand against Nashville on Jan. 29.Steen had two assists, giving him 18 points during a 10-game points streak, the longest by the Blues this season. Ken Hitchcock got his 153rd win with St. Louis, tied with Brian Sutter for second on the franchise list.The Blues have won eight of nine at home against Colorado, including a 3-0 shutout by Martin Brodeur on Dec. 29 in which the Avalanche were held to 16 shots. Theyd taken 21 or more in each of the 10 games since that loss.Matt Duchene scored for the Avalanche, who finished 1-2-2 on a five-game rooad trip. Matt Slauson Jersey. .They outplayed us, theres no question, forward Jarome Iginla said. Once they get the lead theyre a good defensive club and theyre playing well right now.Schwartz scored his third goal in five games on a power play at 32 seconds of the second period to snap a 1-all tie. He got the puck right back and beat Semyon Varlamov after his first attempt deflected off the skate of Colorado defenceman Erik Johnson.Kind of a lucky bounce, Schwartz said. It came right back to me and Varlamov was cheating from the first shot, so it felt good when it went in.Oshie did some nifty stick-handling to set up his 13th goal at 10:40 off assists from David Backes and Steen to close the scoring.Gunnarsson gave the Blues a 1-0 lead with his first goal since Nov. 13 when his point shot deflected off the stick of Alex Tanguay. Hed totalled three assists in the previous 19 games.A giveaway by Kevin Shattenkirk led to Duchenes 13th goal with 6:58 left in the opening period, as the puck ticked off the stick of Blues forward Paul Stastny.Its always tough to win the last one but at the same time we knew it would be a good test, a good challenge, coach Patrick Roy said. Ill give them credit, they played a good game.NOTES: Steen has seven goals and 11 assists during his point streak, but his goal streak ended at five games, one shy of his career best last season. ... The Blues have an NHL-best plus-37 goal differential. ... The Blues are 17-1-2 leading after two periods. ... Attendance of 19,187 was the Blues ninth sellout and fourth in six games of a homestand that concludes against Nashville Jan. 29. ... Backes played his 613th game with St. Louis, tied with Hall of Famer Al MacInnis for eighth on the franchise list. Cheap Denver Nuggets Jerseys Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Oklahoma City Thunder Jerseys Cheap Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys Cheap Utah Jazz Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys Cheap Phoenix Suns Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Dallas Mavericks Jerseys Cheap Houston Rockets Jerseys Cheap Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys Cheap San Antonio Spurs Jerseys Cheap Golden State Warriors Jerseys ' ' '