MIAMI -- Offensive numbers to savour were everywhere for the Miami Heat on Monday night. . They thanked an upgraded defensive effort for that. LeBron James had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 22 points and the Heat beat the Phoenix Suns 124-99 on Monday night. Chris Bosh finished with 18 points, Ray Allen had 15 and Mario Chalmers finished with his second 11-assist, one-turnover game of the young season for Miami (3-1), which is averaging 111.8 points in the early going. "Its all geared to our defence," James said. "When we defend, we can do whatever we want offensively." Which is why, when he took his first look at the stat sheet, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra quickly focused on two numbers -- Phoenix shooting 39.8 per cent, and Miami holding a 49-38 rebounding edge. After struggling in those areas over the first three games, Spoelstra demanded change, and his team listened. "Ill take those two things," Spoelstra said. Shannon Brown led Phoenix with 18 points off the bench. Luis Scola had 15 points, Goran Dragic finished with 13 points and nine assists, and Marcin Gortat scored 12 for the Suns (1-3). "For us, it didnt go too well," the Suns Jared Dudley said. "For them, it went well." Allen became the 24th player in NBA history to eclipse the 23,000-point mark when he made a free throw with 1:01 left in the third quarter. "Its not that it means a big deal," Allen said of reaching another milestone. "Its a sign, a seal, a verification of everything Ive done in my career." The outcome was hardly a lock midway through the third. Phoenix -- even though the Suns were being handled on the glass and in the paint -- was within nine early in the period after a basket by Gortat, and Scola connected on a drive with 6:34 left in the third to get the Suns within 75-65. Thats where Miami decided enough was enough, with a 23-6 run that decided everything. Wade set up James and Chalmers for 3-pointers that came 24 seconds apart, and the Heat were well on their way. Chalmers, Shane Battier and James -- who had 10 points in the spurt -- made 3s later in the run, which was capped by Allen making a pair of free throws, the second of those being point No. 23,001 of his career. Miami had 33 assists on 47 baskets, and even the Suns were impressed by that. "I thought that was probably the most unselfish team Ive ever played against since Ive been in the NBA," Dudley said. "It was drive, kick, swing, penetrate, flare, and they were hitting everyone. Even when someone had a good shot they would make an extra pass for someone to have an even better shot." Chalmers had no more than eight assists in any regular-season game last season, and no more than nine in any playoff game. Entering the season, he had only three double-digit assist games for his career. Hes got five now. "It starts with the point guard," James said. "Rio got everybody involved, got his assist total up tonight and we just tried to make shots for him." Miami raced to a quick 10-2 lead, setting the tone. The Heat have reached 119 points in all three of their home games -- the first time theyve done that since James, Wade and Bosh teamed up to play in Miami over the summer of 2010. They didnt have to play big minutes to get there, however: No Miami starter played more than 30 minutes against the Suns. Through three quarters, Wade, James and Bosh combined to shoot 26 for 39. The Suns, as a team, were 26 for 68 at that point -- and needed a shot by Shannon Brown from near midcourt as the third-period buzzer expired just to match the field-goal total by Miamis "Big Three." The lead reached as many as 30 in the fourth. "They worry about whats happening with their team, not with whats happening with individual stats," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "That in itself makes them great because they are virtually impossible to guard. We get in rotation against them they always try to find the open guy and like I said, adding Ray Allen to the mix didnt hurt at all." NOTES: The game was played on the 24th anniversary of Miamis first NBA game, a 111-91 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. ... Allen has 62 points on 33 field-goal attempts with the Heat. ... Suns reserve centre and former Miami player Jermaine ONeal was not with Phoenix because of a family matter. ... Heat G Norris Cole banked one in from midcourt to end the first quarter, giving Miami a 34-25 lead. ... Heat G James Jones appeared in his 500th NBA game. ... Former Heat forward Michael Beasley scored seven points in 30 minutes for Phoenix. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-eric-dickerson-jersey-tw-5... Dickerson Jersey . Thome has not played since leaving Saturday nights game with tightness on the left side of his lower back. The move was made retroactive to Sunday. The 41-year-old Thome is hitting .111 with no homers or RBIs and 10 strikeouts in 18 at-bats. . Joensuu opened the scoring at 13:27 in the second period, before Anaheim Ducks forward Kyle Palmieri scored 20 seconds later. Bobby Ryan added a goal for the Americans early in the third period. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-chris-givens-jersey-xc-72.... . Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, LeBron James finished with 24 points and seven assists, and the Heat shot a season-best 58 per cent on the way to topping the New Orleans Hornets 106-90 on Saturday night. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-lance-kendricks-jersey-fk-... Kendricks Jersey . -- Canadas James Hinchcliffe earned his first IndyCar podium finish Sunday thanks to his teammates mistake. . -- Chris Paul begged coach Vinny Del Negro to put him back into the game for the fourth quarter and not give up despite being down 21 points.SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Andy Lee has made every punt and held every field goal and extra-point attempt -- minus a few in the preseason -- for the San Francisco 49ers since 2004. Now Lee and his booming leg will be a part of the 49ers even longer. San Francisco signed the three-time All-Pro punter to a six-year contract extension Wednesday that will keep him keep him with the franchise through the 2018 season. "Sometimes its underestimated probably," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said of his punter. "Andy is one of those guys that wins games for our football team. And its great to see guys that play all the games, play all 16, 17, 18 games and help our football team win games, get rewarded with a new contract. So were all really excited and happy for Andy about that." Lee has been a major -- if not often overlooked -- asset since San Francisco drafted him in the sixth round in 2004. The 29-year-old has played in 128 games for the 49ers and holds team records in punts (723), yards (33,069), gross average (45.7), net average (38.9) and punts downed inside the 20-yard line (209). Since 2007, Lees gross punting average (47.9) and net average (40.7) rank second in the NFL. Lee also set thhe NFL single-season record last year in net punting average (44. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-robert-quinn-jersey-sg-93.... Quinn Jersey. ) and his gross average (50.9) ranked third in league history. "They did a good job signing other guys to just keep this team intact so we can make a run at the Super Bowl," Lee said. "It makes me feel really good and makes me feel respected by this team and organization." Lee always expresses appreciation for long snapper Brian Jennings and his fellow special-teamers for the success. David Akers -- who set a single-season NFL record with 44 field goals last year-- made the All-Pro team. And special teams coach Brad Seely has been a big part of the units success, too. Lee, who was set to become a free agent after this season, was thrilled hell stay a part of the close-knit group beyond this year. "I think its a great thing to know where Im going to be and be able to plan our future and know my family is going to be financially secure with certain things," he said. "It was a good thing to get worked out. I gave a little on my part, I think they gave a little bit on their part. Its a good feeling for both sides." Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. ' ' '