Heat at Nuggets
THE STORY: The Miami Heat thought it was bad enough to suffer back-to-back overtime losses. Now they end a five-game road excursion on Friday in the high altitude of Denver, where they last won a game during the 2001-02 campaign. The Nuggets search for their 10th straight home victory over the Heat, and the streak is Denver’s longest-running string of success against an Eastern Conference foe. The Heat won the first two games of their road trip before the two straight overtime losses to the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers. Denver is 5-1 at home this season after beating New Jersey on Wednesday. Danilo Gallinari had 22 points for his fifth 20-point outing in seven games. Gallinari tweaked his right ankle during the contest but is probable to play against Miami. Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson will be a game-time decision after missing the New Jersey game with a foot injury.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sun Sports (Miami), Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE HEAT (8-3): Forward LeBron James had 23 points in the loss to the Clippers but fell short at the free-throw line. James was just 9 of 17 from the line and had four misses in the final five minutes of regulation, including one with 5.1 seconds left. Overall, Miami was just 20 of 34 from the line. “I put a lot of the free throws on me,” James said afterward. “It’s kind of a rhythm. I need to concentrate a little more at the free-throw line and knock them down.”
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (7-4): Veteran Andre Miller started in place of the injured Lawson against New Jersey and had a double-double with 12 points and 12 assists. Miller doesn’t consider himself a backup and expressed prior to the game that he won’t return to Denver as a reserve next season. Interestingly, the Nuggets posted an NBA season-high 37 assists against the Nets. Denver coach George Karl couldn’t help but make a crack about the unselfishness. “Most NBA teams have the problem the other way,” Karl said.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Denver has won 14 of the last 17 meetings with Miami.
2. Heat guard Dwayne Wade is averaging 27.1 points in 15 career games against the Nuggets.
3. Denver forward Corey Brewer had a season-high 19 points against New Jersey and is 14 for 19 shooting over the last three games.