Grizzlies at Heat
The Miami Heat have lost three straight and eight of their last nine - many in painful fashion - but they have a favorable stretch of home games lined up, beginning with Saturday's visit from the Memphis Grizzlies. The contest opens a five-game homestand and begins a span in which the Heat play 15 of their final 23 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Each of their defeats during the 1-8 slump have come by single digits and two Miami players missed potential go-ahead shots in the closing seconds of Friday's 124-123 overtime loss at New Orleans. "You have to forge ahead regardless of what emotions you're feeling, frustration," coach Erik Spoelstra said of the close losses. "All these moments can benefit us. I truly believe they will. We're so close to getting over this hump." The Grizzlies do not appear close to getting over any humps and they've dropped eight in a row after Friday's 112-89 loss to Cleveland at home. They've been held under 90 points in four of the last six contests.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), FS Sun (Miami)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (18-39): Tyreke Evans produced 15 points and 10 assists for his seventh double-double while tying his season high with three steals, but he left with a rib injury in the third quarter and did not return. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters that Evans will be re-evaluated and his status for Saturday's tilt is uncertain. JaMychal Green also had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the loss and he's grabbed at least 10 boards in three of his last five games.
ABOUT THE HEAT (30-29): Dwyane Wade scored twice in the waning moments of overtime to give Miami a chance as he capped his best effort with the team since being traded from Cleveland at the deadline. After averaging seven points on 32.1 percent shooting over his first three games with Miami, Wade had 16 points on 7-of-20 from the field versus New Orleans. Goran Dragic flirted with his first triple-double in nearly seven years with 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and the All-Star guard had a team-high 19 points in a 107-82 win at Memphis earlier this season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Heat C Hassan Whiteside recorded his sixth consecutive double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds at New Orleans.
2. Grizzlies SF Chandler Parsons (illness) sat out Friday's game and is day-to-day.
3. Miami C Kelly Olynyk (shoulder) has missed five games in a row.