Jazz-Heat Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Dec 21 2012 10:45PM

It took a while, but the Miami Heat have finally regained the defensive form that helped them win the NBA championship last season.

They'll try to hold an opponent under 100 points for the seventh straight game and win their fourth in a row Saturday when they host the inconsistent Utah Jazz.

Miami (17-6) limited Dallas to 38.5 percent shooting - including 3 of 22 from beyond the arc - on Thursday in a 110-95 road win.

After allowing 100.6 points over their first 17 games, the Heat have given up just 89.7 in the past six. Miami has limited opponents to 39.8 percent from the floor in its three-game winning streak.

All those misses have led to transition scoring opportunities for the Heat, who rank fourth in the NBA with 18.9 points per game off turnovers this month. They were just 16th in the league (16.8) in November.

"We know each other," LeBron James said. "We can close our eyes and (know) where we're going to be offensively and defensively."

Miami, 12-2 at home, looks to continue the effort against a Utah team that has struggled to score in dropping three of its last four contests.

The Jazz (14-13) shot 37.2 percent from the field - including 2 of 15 from 3-point range - on Wednesday in a 104-84 loss at Indiana.

Derrick Favors was one bright spot with 16 points and nine rebounds, scoring in double figures for the third time in four games.

Al Jefferson, however, matched a season low with four points on 1 of 8 shooting. The team's scoring leader (16.8 per game) may be able to bounce back Saturday since he's averaged 22.5 points in his last two games against Miami.

The Jazz averaged 109.0 points in winning four of six to open December, but they've scored just 86.5 points per game in their last four while falling to 5-11 on the road.

"We just need to get back to work and work on things in practice," guard Gordon Hayward said.

James doesn't need to work on too much. He's scored at least 20 points in all 23 games, the longest streak to start an NBA season since Karl Malone's 24 in a row opening the 1989-90 season.

"I'm just very comfortable and confident in my ability," he said. "I put a lot of work into my game. It's always good when you put in the work and implement that into a game situation."

While the Heat have lost two of three against the Jazz since James arrived in Miami, he's averaged 34.0 points on 28 of 44 (63.8 percent) shooting in the last two meetings.

Dwyane Wade, who added 19 points against the Mavericks, has burned Utah for 32.7 points per game in his last three in the series.

Miami has eclipsed 100 points in 10 of 12 games, shooting 50.0 percent from the floor during that stretch.

Utah snapped an eight game losing streak at Miami in its last visit when it pulled out a 116-114 overtime win behind Paul Millsap's career-high 46 points in 2010.

The Jazz have won three of four in the series, winning 99-98 at Utah in the only meeting last season, overcoming a combined 66 from James and Wade.

James scores 30, Heat win again, top Jazz 105-89

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Dec 22 2012 10:49PM

MIAMI (AP) LeBron James' scoring streak is still going, as well as his uncanny run of not fouling anyone.

And the latest Miami Heat winning streak lives on as well, just in time for a Christmas showdown with Oklahoma City.

James scored 30 points, Dwyane Wade added 21 points and seven assists, and the Heat rode the strength of a big third-quarter run to beat the Utah Jazz 105-89 on Saturday night.

James added nine rebounds and seven assists for the Eastern Conference-leading Heat, who won their fourth straight game. Their next game against Oklahoma City in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals. Shane Battier scored 15 and Ray Allen added 13 for Miami, which opened the second half on a 22-6 run to build a 69-49 lead.

"We look like a Miami Heat basketball team," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Marvin Williams scored 16 for Utah, which got 15 from Gordon Hayward and 11 from Paul Millsap.

The Jazz played the second half without Mo Williams, who had X-rays on his thumb and was concerned after the game about the potential severity - saying it reminded him of a serious injury in 2008. He said he expects to have an MRI exam on Sunday.

Miami was without Chris Bosh, home with what the team said was a cold. Even without their biggest starter, the Heat managed to outrebound the Jazz 39-38.

James has scored at least 20 points in all 24 Heat games this season, matching the longest run of 20-or-more efforts to start a year since Karl Malone did it for Utah in the 1989-90 campaign.

Maybe it was fitting that James tied Malone's mark in a game against the Jazz.

"Karl Malone's a great player," James said before the game. "Awesome player, by the way."

It also was the 29th straight regular-season game in which James scored at least 20 points and 45th consecutive overall.

That is just one of two streaks James has going as he didn't get called for a personal foul for a sixth straight game. James' most recent foul was an offensive call against New Orleans on Dec. 8. He has played 250 minutes, 4 seconds without being whistled for a personal foul, though he was hit with a technical for arguing a no-call late in the first half on Saturday.

"I'd be concerned if he was just standing around, if he was hiding and taking himself out of plays and taking mini-vacations on possessions," Spoelstra said. "But he's been activating our defense. And when you have his type of athletic, God-given ability and you add that to his mind and then the preparation, he can be one or two steps ahead of the play - which allows him to be a playmaker defensively."

For his part, James said he is enjoying the no-foul streak more than anything else.

"That means I'm putting myself in the right position and I'm not getting out of position," James said. "Just trying to be there before plays actually happen. That means I'm helping my teammates out on offense and defense."

And of course, there is also the Heat winning streak, now up to four games, all by at least 11 points and by an average of 18.

Just in time for the Finals rematch with the Thunder.

"I'm sure they'll be motivated," Spoelstra said of the Thunder.

Miami scored the first eight points of the second half to create some breathing room. James started by making a jumper, then set up Battier - who started in place of Bosh - for a 3-pointer. Battier then made another 3 off an assist from Wade to give Miami a 55-43 edge by the time the third quarter was 90 seconds old.

The margin eventually grew to 20, but Utah wasn't done.

The Jazz cut the deficit by the end of the third, getting within 73-63, and the Heat lead was only eight after a free throw by Millsap with 4:40 remaining.

That would be the end of the drama.

James drove the lane for a left-handed layup with 3:55 left to put Miami back up by 12, and after a Utah turnover on the ensuing possession, Allen hit a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 97-82 lead.

"We kept fighting," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "That's the great thing about this team. We're not going to quit against anybody."

The NBA's new 90-second pregame countdown clock also played a bit of a role down the stretch.

The Heat were called for a delay-of-game technical with 8:24 remaining, in part because the team wasn't fully ready to go when the countdown-to-tipoff expired. That led to the team's first delay warning of the night, and the second came after Norris Cole scored on a reverse layup and then knocked the ball out of the hands of Utah forward Derrick Favors as he prepared to throw an inbounds pass.

NOTES: James was presented with the trophy commemorating his Eastern Conference player-of-the-month award for November (and the last two days of October) in a brief halftime ceremony. ... Utah will close its four-game trip at Orlando on Sunday. ... Wade's foundation, Wade's World, brought 50 people to the game as part of his three-day schedule of "3 Under The Tree" series of Christmas-themed charity events. ... Heat F-C Josh Harrellson also missed the game because of illness.

Notebook: Heat 105, Jazz 89

Zachary Paul, For NBA.com
Posted Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:14 PM - Updated Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:14 PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the Utah Jazz 105-89 Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena. The home team was in control for the most part despite playing without center Chris Bosh, who was out because of flu-like symptoms. The Heat opted for a small lineup, starting Udonis Haslem at center and Shane Battier at power forward.

The move by coach Erik Spoelstra worked perfectly as the Heat (18-6) used a quicker pace to their advantage. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade picked up the scoring load, finishing with 30 and 21 points, respectively. After Wade kept the team afloat in the first half, James scored 12 points in the pivotal third quarter when the Heat were able to take control.

Miami led by as many as 20, but the Jazz trimmed the lead to 10 before the end of the quarter. Utah (14-14) pulled to within 75-68 on Jamaal Tinsley's 3-pointer but could get no closer. James also added nine rebounds and seven assists.

Marvin Williams led the Jazz with 16 points.

QUOTABLE: "That's a physical team, and without Chris [Bosh], a man short, guys really just stepped up to their challenge. ... Our guys were just focused on trying to win those big-muscle areas."

--Heat coach Erik Spolestra

THE STAT: Despite no Bosh, the Heat outrebounded the Jazz 39-38.

TURNING POINT: After taking a four-point lead into halftime, the Heat opened the third quarter by scoring eight straight points to take control.

QUOTABLE II: "They came out with an 8-0 run in the third quarter. It was a close game until that run. Then you have to fight your way back in it. We didn't have a pace and as a result we turned the ball over."

--Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin

HOT: With Bosh out, James and Wade took it upon themselves to fill the scoring void. Wade once again shot at a high percentage as he continues to focus on efficient scoring. James overcame a slow start to complete yet another solid all-around game.

NOT: With the exception of Williams, the Jazz got little from their starting lineup. Randy Foye and Al Jefferson combined to miss 13 of their first 16 shots. Add the struggles of Paul Millsap and it's easy to see why Utah had such difficulties.

GOOD MOVE: So much for the Heat struggling against the Utah frontcourt. Even without Bosh, the Heat were able to score in the paint and keep the Jazz from dominating the boards. It helped that Wade and James were so active on the glass.

BAD MOVE: Utah struggled from the field throughout, falling victim to the Heat's pressure defense. With Mo Williams sidelined because of a thumb injury the second half, the Jazz had problems getting into their offense with backup Earl Watson running the point.

NOTABLE: James scored at least 20 points for the 24th straight time. The feat tied Karl Malone for the longest streak to start a season. Malone did it in 1989-90. The Heat improved to 13-2 at home while the Jazz fell to 5-12 on the road.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Tuesday vs. Thunder, Wednesday @ Bobcats, Friday @ Pistons. For the Jazz, Sunday @ Magic, Wednesday vs. Warriors, Friday vs. Clippers.

• Jazz: Bell, Murphy
• Heat: Bosh, Harrellson

• Jazz: Corbin
• Heat: James

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #8 Marc Davis, #7 Kevin Fehr, #16 David Guthrie
• Attendance: 20087
• Duration: 2:06