Heat at Jazz
THE STORY: It doesn’t look like the Miami Heat have any intention of letting up in the second half of the season. The NBA’s best team rolled to its ninth consecutive victory with a 107-93 rout of Portland on Thursday. At 28-7, Miami has its best record after 35 games. LeBron James had 38 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals and Dwyane Wade had 33 points and 10 assists. Utah ended a four-game slide with a 104-83 victory Wednesday over Houston, but will need to be clicking to slow down the Heat.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, SunSports (Heat), ROOT Sports (Jazz)
ABOUT THE HEAT (28-7): According to the Elias Sports Bureau, James became the only player since at least 1977-78 with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five steals and no turnovers. “We’re just playing basketball at an all-time high as far as us together,” James said. Miami has won every game by double digits during the streak and is usually putting teams away by the third quarter. Only three clubs in NBA history have won 10 consecutive games by double digits. All-Star Chris Bosh missed Thursday’s game and will be out again on Friday to attend his grandmother’s funeral.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (16-18): Forward Jeremy Evans was honored by the team before the game Wednesday (Leap Day) for winning the Slam Dunk contest. Evans had three slams, three blocks and grabbed seven rebounds. Jazz power forward Paul Millsap (bruised heel) didn’t play Wednesday. “It’s sore,” Millsap said. “I’ll just stay off it and take it day-to-day.” This is the only meeting between the teams this season, each won on the road in 2010-11. Utah begins a five-game trip at Dallas on Saturday night.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Heat has scored at least 100 points in eight of its last nine games.
2. Miami is just 8-17 all-time at Utah.
3. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was selected as the NBA's Eastern Conference coach of the month after the Heat went 11-2 in February.