Nets-Heat Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Nov 07 2012 12:55PM

The Miami Heat have good reason to believe they'll keep their momentum going into an upcoming two-week road swing.

They have yet to lose a home game and their final one before that trip comes Wednesday night against a Brooklyn Nets team they've beaten 10 straight times.

Two days after needing Ray Allen's late 4-point play for a narrow win over Denver, Miami's victory Monday wasn't nearly as dramatic. The Heat (3-1) topped 118 points for the third time in four games, beating Phoenix 124-99 to improve to 3-0 at home.

The defending champions have won 15 of 17 home games including last season's playoff run, though they will head to the road for six straight games starting Friday in Atlanta. Their next home game after Wednesday will be a Nov. 21 matchup versus Milwaukee.

Winning in Miami will be a tall order for the Nets (1-1) in their first regular-season road game since moving to Brooklyn. They've dropped six straight there since Feb. 1, 2008, and have lost 10 in a row overall in the series.

LeBron James has won his last 14 games against the Nets. He's averaged 30.3 points in the past four, shooting 67.7 percent from the field.

James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are all averaging 20-plus points as the Heat have averaged a league-high 111.8. They scored 98.5 per game last season.

The addition of Allen and his 15.5 points per game certainly help, as does the team's 46.0 percent 3-point shooting.

James credits something else.

"It starts with the point guard," said James, who is 6 for 11 from 3-point range.

Mario Chalmers had 11 assists for the second time in four games Monday after previously reaching double digits three times in his career - none last season. He has committed just six turnovers and has a team-leading nine steals.

Chalmers had three steals Monday as the Heat had their best defensive effort of the season. They held the Suns to 39.8 percent shooting and kept an opponent under 100 points for the first time. They also had a 49-38 advantage on the boards after being outrebounded twice in their first three games.

"I'll take those two things," coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Brooklyn's defense could be in for a struggle to stop Miami's Big Three after getting outscored 32-10 in the fourth quarter of a 107-96 home loss to Minnesota on Monday. The Nets led by as many as 22 in the second half.

"We just relaxed defensively," coach Avery Johnson said. "We started trading baskets with them in the third quarter and never really could get stops."

Brooklyn's rebounding (35.5 per game) and points allowed (103.5) both rank near the bottom of the league.

Defeats like Monday's might have been expected at times in the Nets' injury-plagued 2011-12 campaign as they went 22-44, but with a new home and new expectations, this season is a different story.

"Losses like this have to really sting more than they ever have in the past," Johnson said. "Losses like this can come back to bite you later on in the year."

Among the bright spots for the Nets has been Brook Lopez, averaging 20.0 points after playing just five games last season due to injury. Free-agent acquisition C.J. Watson has provided a spark off the bench with 12.5 points in 25.5 minutes per game as the backup to Deron Williams, who has averaged 18.5 points and 11.0 assists.

Williams was limited to 26 points over two matchups with Miami last season.

Nets forward Gerald Wallace will miss a second straight game due to a sprained ankle and is listed as day-to-day.

Wade, James lift Heat past Nets, 103-73

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Nov 07 2012 11:38PM

MIAMI (AP) In 25 seasons of Miami Heat basketball, the club had never won its first four home games of any season.

That is, until now.

And the Heat are making it look easy.

Dwyane Wade scored 22 points on 10 for 14 shooting, LeBron James finished two assists shy of a triple-double and the Heat clamped down defensively again to beat the Brooklyn Nets 103-73 on Wednesday night.

Miami scored 31 points off Brooklyn turnovers, and starting with the final minute of the first half, the Heat outscored the Nets 57-32.

"When we get stops, we're going to break open a lot of games because we can score," James said. "So that's the No. 1 key."

James had 20 points and 12 rebounds in only 30 minutes, and Rashard Lewis came off the bench to score 13 points on 6 for 9 shooting for the Heat (4-1). Miami - which plays its next six games on the road - has won its four home games by an average of 17.8 points.

Kris Humphries had a double-double by halftime, then was silent in the second half and finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets (1-2). Deron Williams scored 14 for Brooklyn, which got 12 off the bench from MarShon Brooks.

"It was just an off-night because we had a lot of open looks," said Nets guard Joe Johnson, who finished 4 for 14 with nine points. "I know I did and I missed a few myself. Other than that it was just shots that we normally make that we didn't make tonight. Against a good team like Miami, you have to make them pay."

Miami started 3-0 at home in four other seasons, always falling in the fourth game. Not this time. The Nets held the lead four times in the opening quarter, but all by one point and lasting a total of 2:33.

Other than that, all Miami. The Heat started 3 for 12 from 3-point range, then made seven of their last 12, giving them 40 makes from beyond the arc in their last three games.

"They're tough when you're turning the ball over," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "I thought there were times when we got our half-court defense set that we were decent. We got the ball out of LeBron's hands some, out of Wade's hands some, but then we didn't recognize their shooters and their shooters made shots tonight."

The Heat shot 52 percent, holding New Jersey to 38 percent. Miami finished with 25 assists and 12 turnovers; New Jersey finished with 12 assists and 19 turnovers.

"It was good to see another game, sub-40 percent," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Our guys were, for the most part, committed to try to make an impact on that side of the floor."

Brooklyn didn't lose sight of Miami in the first half, still being within five with less than a minute remaining until the break, before the Heat got late scores from Wade and James to take a 50-41 edge into the locker room.

And as was the case against Phoenix (with a 23-6 run) on Monday, the Heat used the third quarter as the springboard.

It was a 54-46 game after Keith Bogans made a 3-pointer for Brooklyn early in the third, but after that, all Heat. Miami needed just 91 seconds to put together a 10-0 run - two baskets by Wade started it, and 3-pointers from Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers finished it, putting the Heat up 64-46.

"We know there's going to be moments when you're not going to be able to shoot the ball as well as you want to," Wade said. "It averages out for this team. ... That's why you have to be a good defensive team to be successful in this league."

The outcome was never again in doubt. Chalmers extended the lead to 20 when he sliced down the lane for a nifty layup with 3:45 left in the third, and James made a stepback 3-pointer as time was running out in the period for what was then Miami's largest lead, 79-56.

By then, the only drama was whether James would get his 33rd regular-season triple-double, which would have been his first since March 29, 2011.

Instead, he remained on the bench in the fourth, the Heat comfortably ahead the whole way.

"One, I didn't know," Spoelstra said. "Two, that's not the time to put him back in. We're thinking big picture."

NOTES: Wade sent his mother, Jolinda, flowers during a second-quarter timeout as a video message played on the overhead scoreboards. ... The Nets were without Gerald Wallace, who missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle. Brooklyn is hoping he may be able to do more before its game Friday at Orlando. ... Heat F Udonis Haslem was poked in the left eye in the first half, dropping to his knees in pain when he got hit but staying in the game. ... Wade drew laughter after the morning shootaround, pretending he was miffed about Nets part-owner Jay-Z not attending the meeting when the team tried wooing him as a free agent in 2010 - but that the rapper appeared in person for James' sit-down that summer with the team. "True," James said.

Notebook: Heat 103, Nets 73

Shandel Richardson, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:00 PM - Updated Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:00 PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the Brooklyn Nets 103-73 Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Guard Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 22 points for the Heat, who shot 52 percent from the field. Forward LeBron James finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists while swingman Rashard Lewis added 13 points off the bench.

After the defense was questioned through four games, the Heat turned in their best performance of the season. They held the Nets to 37 percent shooting, including 3-for-21 from 3-point range.

Miami shook off a slow start before taking control in the third quarter. The Heat got a little help from the 3-pointer, hitting 10-for-24 from the arc.

The Nets were led by Deron Williams' 14 points and three assists.

QUOTABLE: "It is good to see another game of sub-40 percent field goal percentage. Our guys were committing to try and make an impact on that side of the floor. This is two games in a row of making that commitment and we will continue to build that. We are slowly regaining our identity again."

-- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra

THE STAT: The Heat continued their streak of unselfish basketball, winning the assist battle 25-12. Wade and Mario Chalmers each had five.

TURNING POINT: The Heat went on a 10-0 run early in the third quarter and the rest was history. A Chalmers 3-pointer made it 64-46 with 7:22 remaining

HOT: So much for Wade being slowed by offseason knee surgery. He added yet another solid performance, doing most of his damage in the second quarter. Wade shot 10-for-14 from field.

NOT: Joe Johnson, who was signed to become the team's top scoring threat, was invisible for the most part. He finished just 4-for-14 from the field with nine points. The bulk of that production came after the outcome was already decided.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat got back to their defensive identity. After allowing the opposition to score with ease the first four games, they finally buckled down on defense. The Nets' two best players, Williams and Johnson, combined to shoot 11-for-29.

BAD MOVE: The Nets failed to capitalize on their height advantage. At first, it appeared the tandem of Brook Lopez and Andray Blatche would have their way on the inside. Then the Heat's quickness took over, at one point using the smaller Udonis Haslem on the 7-foot Blatche.

NOTABLE: The Nets were without forwards Gerald Wallace and Josh Childress, who missed the game because of ankle injuries. Keith Bogans started in place of Wallace for a second straight game ... Center Dexter Pittman and guard Terrel Harris were inactive for the Heat.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Friday @ Atlanta, Sunday @ Memphis, Monday @ Houston. For the Nets, Friday @ Orlando, Sunday vs. Orlando, Tuesday vs. Cleveland.

• Nets: Childress, Wallace
• Heat: Harris, Pittman

• Nets: --
• Heat: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #6 Tony Brown, #58 Josh Tiven
• Attendance: 19627
• Duration: 2:03