The Miami Heat led buzzer to buzzer last night and defeated the Phoenix Suns 124-99.  LeBron James had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Dwayne Wade added 22, Chris Bosh finished with 18 points and Ray Allen came off the bench to score 15.  The Heat return to the court tomorrow at the AAA as they welcome the Brooklyn Nets, and they will travel to Atlanta to meet up with the Hawks Friday night as they embark on a long road trip.  In the NBA yesterday,

New York Knicks 110 Philadelphia 76ers 88

Knicks 3-0 or the first time to open a season since 1999

Minnesota T-Wolves 107 Brooklyn Nets 96

Minnesota erased a 22 point deficit in the second half

Memphis Grizzlies 103 Utah Jazz 94

Marc Gasol had a game-high 22 points

Dallas Mavericks 114 Portland Trailblazers 91

OJ Mayo hit for 32 points

San Antonio Spurs 101 Indiana Pacers 79

The Spurs are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history

Sacramento Kings 94 Golden State Warriors 92

Demarcus Cousins led the way with 23 points and 15 rebounds

Cleveland Cavaliers 108 LA Clippers 101

Dion Waters scored 28 points, Kyrie Irving scored 24 and dished out 10 assists

TODAY IN THE NBA

Orlando Magic @ Chicago Bulls 8:00 pm

Toronto Raptors @ Oklahoma City Thunder 8:00 pm NBA-TV

Detroit Pistons @ Denver Nuggets 9:00 pm

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Yesterday was the 24th anniversary of the first NBA game ever for the Miami Heat.  Who did they play and what was the result?  Tell you later, alligator. 

The Dolphins have a day off today and return to the practice field tomorrow as they prepare for Sunday’s game at the Seven Names Stadium against the Tennessee Titans.  Game time on Sunday is 1:00 pm.   

In the NFL yesterday, 

New Orleans Saints 28 Philadelphia Eagles 13

Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes and Patrick Robinson returned an interception 99 yards for a score.

On my five picks this past week on the Descarga Deportiva radio segment, I went 3-2, losing with the Dolphins and the NY Giants.  I won with the Baltimore Ravens, the Atlanta Falcons, and the New Orleans Saints.  Let’s see if what happens this coming week.

This week’s games in the NFL:

THURSDAY

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars 

Jax +3 8:20 pm  NFL Network 

SUNDAY

Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins

Mia -6 1:00 pm CBS Channel 4

New York Giants @ Cincinnati Bengals

Cin +4 1:00 pm

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings

Min +1 1:00 pm

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots

NE -11 1:00 pm

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints

NO +2.5 1:00 pm

San Diego Chargers @ Tampa Bay Bucaneers

TB -3 1:00 pm

Denver Broncos @ Carolina Panthers

Car +3.5 1:00 pm

Oakland Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens

Bal -9.5 1:00 pm

NY Jets @ Seattle Seahawks

Sea -6.5 4:05 pm CBS  Ch. 4

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

Phi -1 4:25 pm FOX Ch. 7

St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers

SF -11 4:25 pm

Houston Texans @ Chicago Bears

Chi -1 8:20 pm NBC Ch. 6

MONDAY

Kansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pit -11.5 8:30 pm ESPN

Bye week for the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins

In baseball, the Boston Red Sox and their long-time DH, David Ortiz, reached an agreement on a two-year contract.  As much as I root against the Red Sox, I applaud the signing of Big Papi.  

The GM meetings in Major League Baseball get under way this week, and this is when teams set the framework for possible trades.  Look for the Marlins to be very active in the trade market.  Nobody is untouchable from a trade standpoint on the Marlins major league team.  

In college football, the FIU Panthers are off this weekend, and will return to the field on Friday, November 16th, in Boca Raton, against Florida Atlantic.  Game time will be 8:00 pm.  Remember, you can catch the FIU game broadcasts (in English, no less) on your smartphone or on the computer at www.fiusports.com.  I will be handling the play-by-play, and Pete Pelegrin will be handling the color analysis.  

The University of Miami Hurricanes can clinch the ACC Coastal Division championship with wins over Virginia this Saturday and Duke next week.  This division has only one bowl-eligible team so far (Duke), and UM is unranked, with four losses, and under the black cloud of an NCAA investigation.  The 2012 version of the Canes is 97th in the country running the football, averaging 130 yards per game, and 84th in the nation in points defense, allowing over 30 points per game.  This team is not anywhere close to getting back to the level of prominence it has enjoyed in the past.  This saturday's game between the Canes and Virginia is a 12 noon kickoff and you watch the game on ABC, Channel 10 in Miami.

In top ten action this week in college football:

On Thursday, #10 Florida State will be on the road to take on Virginia Tech.  

On Saturday, 

#1 Alabama hosts #15 Texas A&M 

#2 Kansas State visits TCU

#3 Oregon travels to California

#4 Notre Dame goes on the road to play Boston College

#5 Georgia is at Auburn

#6 Florida takes on Louisiana-Lafayette at the swamp

#7 LSU entertains #21 Mississippi State

#8 South Carolina hosts Arkansas

#9 Louisville visits Syracuse

  

THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Yesterday was the 24th anniversary of the first NBA game ever for the Miami Heat.  Who did they play and what was the result of that initial game?  The Heat lost to the LA Clippers at the Miami Arena, 111-91.    

Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com. 

Today is Election day, 2012.  GET OUT AND EXERCISE YOU RIGHT TO VOTE.

Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day and, hopefully, a new President of the United States.