Heat at Timberwolves
THE STORY: The Miami Heat continue to battle for Eastern Conference supremacy when they visit the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The Heat, a half-game behind Boston for second in the East, is playing their third game of a four-game road trip that concludes Sunday at New Jersey. The Timberwolves have lost eight straight and have sunk to the bottom of the Western Conference.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, SUN
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (17-58): The end of the season can’t come soon enough for Minnesota, which is completing a three-game homestand that started with losses to Boston and Chicago. This is the fifth game of six straight in which the Timberwolves are playing a team with a winning record. Chicago took control early Wednesday and coasted to a 108-91 win. Kevin Love returned from after missing three games with a groin injury with 16 points and nine rebounds.
ABOUT THE HEAT (52-23): Miami, which is 2 ½ games back of Chicago for the top spot in the East, has won six of its last seven games and have won an Eastern Conference-high 24 games on the road, third most in franchise history. LeBron James had 35 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Dwyane Wade scored 33 in a 123-107 win at Washington on Wednesday. Miami shot 57.7 percent, including 31-of-48 shooting by James, Wade and Chris Bosh.
WHO’S WHO/WHO’S NOT: James, Wade and Bosh combined for 94 points and over 50-percent shooting against the Wizards, as the Heat improved to 15-0 when the trio shoots better than 50 percent. Minnesota 2010 first-round pick Wesley Johnson went scoreless on six shots Wednesday for the first time since he played just 10 minutes on Feb. 16 against the Clippers. He has scored just 28 points in his last five games after he scored 29 against the Lakers in Los Angeles on March 18.
KEY STATISTIC: Miami has won 19 straight games when scoring more than 100 points. They are 25-3 when James, Wade and Bosh combine for at least 90 points.
SEASON SERIES: The Heat pounded the Timberwolves 129-97 back on Nov. 2 and are seeking a series sweep for the first time since the 2006-07 season. James had 20 points and 12 assists and Wade shot 12-of-17 for 26 points.
KEY INJURIES: MIAMI: G Mario Chalmers (right knee); F Udonis Haslem (left foot); F Mike Miller (left knee). MINNESOTA: F Nikloa Pekovic (hip).
LAST WORD: "It's not the ideal situation to end up a season like ours playing the caliber of teams we're playing,. But I also think it's a good challenge for them. This is a good opportunity for our guys to see how tough and physical and nasty individuals and teams can be when they're really fighting for something." – Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis on closing against elite teams.