Bucks at Heat
The Miami Heat are enjoying their longest winning streak of the season at three in a row as their defense has rounded into shape. That trend will be tested Saturday night when the Milwaukee Bucks -- the league's top scoring team, fresh off another resounding win of their own -- pay a visit.
The Heat have allowed 99 points or fewer in each of the consecutive victories against Memphis, New Orleans and Houston, the last of which began a stretch in which Miami plays nine of 12 at home. "I feel like we've turned a corner," veteran Dwyane Wade told reporters after Thursday's 101-99 win over the Rockets. "Throughout a season, you want to turn different corners. I feel like we've turned the one we need to now." The Bucks have won four in a row and jumped all over the Boston Celtics en route to a 120-107 victory at TD Garden on Friday. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and Milwaukee shot 51.3 percent while reaching the 120-point mark for the 14th time.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Sun (Miami)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (22-9): Milwaukee received a big boost from the bench in Friday's win, particularly Tony Snell and Thon Maker, who combined to make 10-of-11 shots -- 7-of-8 3-pointers. "Tony Snell making shots in the first half, Thon making shots in both halves, the bench coming in and helping," coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "It's just a good win for us." Antetokounmpo scored the team's first 14 points in the third quarter and is averaging 32.8 points on 68.2 percent shooting over his last four games.
ABOUT THE HEAT (14-16): Miami shot just 38.7 percent in Thursday's win, but it held Houston to 35.4 percent and dominated the battle of the boards. "Our identity is trying to make it ugly," guard Tyler Johnson told reporters after scoring 19 points in the victory. "A lot of teams aren't used to that." Josh Richardson finished with his second straight 22-point effort while tying his season high with seven assists as the Heat improved to just 6-9 at home.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Heat won all three meetings last season while holding the Bucks to an average of 88.3 points, and they've taken five straight overall against Milwaukee.
2. Bucks PF Ersan Ilyasova had surgery Friday to repair a broken nose and is out indefinitely.
3. Heat C Hassan Whiteside, who had 17 rebounds in the win over the Rockets, is 6-for-33 from the foul line over his last nine games.