Miami Heat(43-14)
@
Houston Rockets(40-19) 8:00PM EST
Houston, Texas
Toyota Center
Coverage on Sun Sports, CSNH and NBAtv
Miami Heat Starting Lineup:
PG:Mario Chalmers
SG:Dwyane Wade
SF:LeBron James
PF:Shane Battier
C:Chris Bosh
Heat Inactive List: James Jones and Greg Oden
Houston Rockets Starting Lineup:
PG:Patrick Beverly SG:James Harden
SF:Chandler Parsons
PF: Terrence Jones
C:Dwight Howard
Rockets Inactive List:Greg Smith(knee)
The Miami Heat look to pick up their 9th straight victory, as they square off against Dwight Howard and James Harden's Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in H-town.This is the first game of the two-game season series, with the teams set to meet again at the American Airlines Arena in a nationally televised game on March 16th. This is the start of a three game road trip for the rolling Heat, which includes games versus the Rockets, Spurs, and Bulls.
Since February 1st the Rockets have posted a record of 9-2. LeBron is fresh off a magnificent MVP caliber performance last night in which he scored 61 points (career high for points and a Miami Heat record for most points by a single player) on 22-33 from the floor; including 8 from 10 from beyond the arc, he recorded 7 rebounds and 5 assists as well. James went off in a game in which Dwyane Wade was out, as part of the continuous maintenance program the Heat have done all season to preserve Wade's knees. Wade resting in the Heat's 124-107 victory over the visiting Charlotte Bobcats last night, seems to be a strategic plan to have him available for tonight's game, which is the second night of an back-to-back for Miami . For a great part of the season Wade has not played back-to-back- games; in the games he has played back-to-back Dwyane's knee's haven't responded well. Being cautious with Wade like the Heat have done is going to result in a healthy Wade in the playoffs; and a healthy Wade will be a key factor for a Heat Three-peat.
Both these teams can shoot the ball lights out; so tonight's game is sure going to be a high scoring, fast tempo, competitive basketball game. If the Miami Heat win today they will improve to 44-14, as they continue to chase the Pacers down for the best record in the East.
Since February 1st the Rockets have posted a record of 9-2. LeBron is fresh off a magnificent MVP caliber performance last night in which he scored 61 points (career high for points and a Miami Heat record for most points by a single player) on 22-33 from the floor; including 8 from 10 from beyond the arc, he recorded 7 rebounds and 5 assists as well. James went off in a game in which Dwyane Wade was out, as part of the continuous maintenance program the Heat have done all season to preserve Wade's knees. Wade resting in the Heat's 124-107 victory over the visiting Charlotte Bobcats last night, seems to be a strategic plan to have him available for tonight's game, which is the second night of an back-to-back for Miami . For a great part of the season Wade has not played back-to-back- games; in the games he has played back-to-back Dwyane's knee's haven't responded well. Being cautious with Wade like the Heat have done is going to result in a healthy Wade in the playoffs; and a healthy Wade will be a key factor for a Heat Three-peat.
Both these teams can shoot the ball lights out; so tonight's game is sure going to be a high scoring, fast tempo, competitive basketball game. If the Miami Heat win today they will improve to 44-14, as they continue to chase the Pacers down for the best record in the East.
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