Heat at Hawks
THE STORY: The Atlanta Hawks attempt to move within one game of the first-place Miami Heat in the Southeast Division standings when the teams battle in Sunday’s nationally televised contest. The two squads have split two previous meetings this season, with both teams winning on the other’s home court. Miami’s victory came in triple overtime. The Heat have won four of five games and Atlanta has won two straight following a three-game losing skid. The Hawks are 9-4 at home.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
ABOUT THE HEAT (20-7): Guard Dwayne Wade had 26 points in Friday’s victory over the Washington Wizards for his seventh consecutive 20-point outing. Wade has shot 50 percent or better in six of the games. Since returning from a six-game absence due to an ankle injury, Wade has averaged 24.9 points in nine games. Forward Chris Bosh had 24 points against the Wizards to mark just the second time this season that Wade and Bosh have each scored 20 or more points in the same game.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (18-9): Forward Josh Smith made the Orlando Magic pay for his All-Star snub with a spectacular performance that included 23 points and a season-best 19 rebounds in Friday’s overtime victory. Smith is averaging 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots, and was highly disappointed to be passed over. “The whole world knows I deserve to be an All-Star,” Smith said. “I can’t be salty about not making it.” Guard Joe Johnson was named to his sixth All-Star game.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Atlanta is 27-17 at home against Miami but the Heat has won four consecutive visits.
2. Heat forward Shane Battier hit three 3-pointers on Friday to go over 1,000 for his career. He has 1,002.
3. Johnson has two 20-point outings against Miami this season after scoring 10 or less in two of his three games against the Heat a season ago.