For LeBron, game day/birthday is combo blessing

LeBron James turned 27 years old and reflective all at the same time on Friday.

He celebrated another birthday by playing the Timberwolves at Target Center and counted himself blessed for being able to play another game on his birthday.

"My birthday and my mom's birthday are the two days I feel real good about playing basketball," he said before Friday's game. "I've had the luxury of having games on my birthday and my mom's birthday, so we'll see what happens."

What happened was another dominant performance that brought the hostile road crowd out of its seats to cheer a flying slam dunk or baseline drive by the player who has the rarest combination of speed and power in the league. James had 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in Miami's 103-101 victory.

Asked if he plays best on his birthday because it puts him in a focused state of mind, he said: "Absolutely. It's just a testament to where I am now. I don't take it for granted. You know, my birthday when I turned 15 or I turned 9 when I was growing up, it wasn't the best of days on my birthday. To see where I am today and to be able to turn 21 and be in the NBA and turn 22 and now turn 27 and be part of this league, it's a testament.

"I'm very humbled that I am able to be here and I am very blessed."

James will be host to his own combo birthday party/New Year Eve's party Saturday night back home in Miami Beach's South Beach district.

His knee grew sore as training camp progressed. He has surgery to repair the meniscus on the same knee after the college season last March, but this surgery is not related to that one, the team said.

"It's unfortunate for him, but better to get it fixed than wait," coach Rick Adelman said. "He had played very well. We were very pleased with him. We would not have hesitated to play him."

Barea aims for SundayWolves guard J.J. Barea missed Friday's game because of that hamstring he injured Tuesday at Milwaukee but said he hopes to practice Saturday and play Sunday against his former Dallas team.

"Not there yet, but way better," he said. "If it was later in the season, I think the trainer would say let's try it. But it's so early and it's a hamstring, so you just want to be careful."

Role modelFriday's game reunited Adelman with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. The two have known each other since Adelman coached the Trail Blazers and Spoelstra played high school and college ball in Portland, Ore.

Do the mathWolves rookie Derrick Williams played his first NBA game against James, a guy he says he "grew up watching." He also attended James' summer camp for the nation's top high school and college players one summer.

Is that possible? Can you grow up watching a guy who just turned 27?

"Uh, how old is Derrick, 21?" James asked about the 20-year-old. "So you subtract nine [years in the NBA] from 20 and yeah. It's very humbling, man. He's a great young player. I watched him in college. I watched him in high school as well. They've got a good one there."

Etc.• Wolves center Nikola Pekovic (strained groin) also missed the game.