Bobcats at Heat
THE STORY: The Miami Heat look to snap a two-game slide when they host the lowly Charlotte Bobcats on Friday. The Bobcats have lost 14 straight contests and are looking to avoid the season-series sweep at the hands of the Heat. Miami took both of the previous matchups this season and has won seven straight over Charlotte. The Heat are 20-10 all-time versus the Bobcats and 12-3 in games played in Miami.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN (Charlotte), SunSports (Miami)
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (7-50): The Bobcats have lost by 20 or more points 19 times this season. Charlotte is last in the league in point differential, having been outscored by an average of 13.3 points per game - the second-worst mark in NBA history. The Dallas Mavericks were outscored by an average of 15.2 points during the 1992-93 campaign. Bobcats forward Corey Maggette has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to an injured Achilles' tendon.
ABOUT THE HEAT (40-17): Miami has already clinched a playoff berth and is closing in on the Southeast Division title. The Heat holds a 6.5 game lead over Atlanta and Orlando with nine games remaining. Guard Dwyane Wade has had more than just the upcoming playoffs on his mind recently. "I do not want to be paid to go to the Olympics," Wade said in a statement Thursday, a day after he was quoted as saying he believes "guys should be compensated'' for the time they devote to the Olympic team. Wade played for the United States team that won bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics and was part of the squad that claimed gold in Beijing in 2008. He has said this year's London Games would be his last.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Wade tied Alonzo Mourning's franchise record for games played at 593 when he took the court Thursday versus Chicago.
2. Bobcats Forward Tyrus Thomas missed Thursday's game against the Pistons due to a right knee contusion and is questionable to play Friday.
3. The Heat has dropped six of their last 11 games.