NBA-Highlights of Sunday's NBA playoff games

April 20 (The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Sunday's National Basketball Association playoff games. - - - Heat 99, Bobcats 88 LeBron James recorded 27 points and nine rebounds, and a well-rested guard Dwyane Wade finished with 23 points and five assists to lead the Heat to a 99-88 victory over the Bobcats and a 1-0 lead in its Eastern Conference first-round series. Wade, who missed 28 contests this season and had averaged 22 minutes per game in his final three regular season appearance, played 33 minutes and helped the Heat overcome a second-half deficit to win their 17th consecutive game against the Bobcats. Charlotte, making only a second playoff appearance in franchise history, has not defeated the Heat since James and center Chris Bosh joined Wade in Miami before the 2010-11 season. Al Jefferson finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte but suffered an apparent heel injury late in the first quarter and laboured throughout. - - - Spurs 90, Mavericks 85 Tim Duncan shook off a third-quarter knee injury and scored 10 points in the fourth as the Spurs defeated the Mavericks in the opening game of their Western Conference playoffs series. Duncan, who limped off before returning, finished with 27 points while Tony Parker contributed 21 points and six assists as San Antonio used a 14-0 push to erase a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. The Mavs missed 12 straight shots down the stretch, scoring just four points - two on free throws - during the final 7:45. Reserve Devin Harris came of the bench to score 19 for Dallas, who saw leading scorers Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis each score just 11 on 4-of-14 shooting. Game Two is in San Antonio on Wednesday. (Editing by John O'Brien)