Heat tame Timberwolves despite huge rebounding gulf

By Simon Evans

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Miami Heat overcame a 28-point rebounding differential to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-92 on Tuesday with Dwyane Wade top scoring with 24 points.

The Timberwolves slaughtered Miami 52-24 on the boards, with Kevin Love winning 18 of the rebounds and Montenegrin Nikola Pekovic 12.

But the Heat shrugged off the disadvantage as they dominated the turnover count, and were never threatened after pulling away in the second half.

"I don't know how many times I've seen that, when you get doubled up on the rebounding and you still win," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters.

"We'll take it."

LeBron James put up 22 points with 11 assists and seven rebounds in his 42 minutes on court to notch his 27th consecutive regular season game with at least 20 points.

The visitors led 27-21 at the end of the first quarter, having dominated the rebounds 18-3 in the opening 12 minutes.

Miami recovered to lead 52-49 at the half, with Mario Chalmers scoring a three-pointer with the final play.