Clippers-Heat Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Feb 07 2013 9:16PM

While LeBron James and Dwyane Wade continue to guide the thriving Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Clippers' start-studded roster has been depleted by injuries.

That could change Friday night.

Los Angeles hopes Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford and Chauncey Billups each will be in the lineup as it continues its eight-game road trip against Miami.

The Heat (32-14) have won eight of their last 10 games, with James scoring at least 30 points in each contest during a three-game winning streak. He scored 32 in Wednesday's 114-108 win over Houston, two nights after hitting 13 of 14 from the field in a 99-94 win over Charlotte.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said James can adjust to any defense, which is the main reason James is shooting a career-best 55.6 percent from the floor.

"He reads the game and does whatever's needed," Spoelstra said. "What you have is the most talented player in the league, a once-in-a-generation player. You add to that his basketball IQ, his work ethic. When you add all that together, you never know what the ceiling is. He may be able to keep on going, and we'll need him to."

Wade was equally as good Wednesday, scoring 31 points and making a key block on a James Harden 3-point attempt late in the game.

"Dwyane at his best can dominate at either end of the floor," Spoelstra said. "Offensively, he's really getting his legs and getting healthier. He's been willing to put in more work than he ever has. That's the type of dedication he's put into this season."

A lack of good health has been a major reason for the Clippers' current slump.

Los Angeles (35-16) has dropped seven of 10 and three of five on its road trip despite Wednesday's 86-76 win over Orlando. Paul has missed nine straight games with a bruised kneecap.

Griffin has sat out the last two with a strained hamstring and Crawford missed Wednesday's contest with a sore right shoulder. Billups, who has played in only three games and none since Dec. 3, appears ready to return after suffering from tendinitis in his left foot.

All four players practiced Thursday and are listed as game-time decisions. It was the first time Paul and Billups practiced together in two months.

"It's kind of weird to have everybody out there," Griffin told the team's official website. "It's nice to have a full team."

Coach Vinny Del Negro just isn't sure if all of them will be on the floor together Friday. If not, he expects all four to be able to play Sunday versus New York.

"We've got to reevaluate everything (Friday) and see how everybody feels," Del Negro said. "But it was good to have everybody out there.

"We'll have a better idea after (Trainer) Jasen (Powell) meets with them and they get their therapy and we see how they are after the shootaround."

Eric Bledsoe helped provide some relief for the injury-plagued Clippers, scoring a career-high 27 points in Wednesday's win to help end a three-game losing streak.

Crawford scored a team-high 22 points off the bench, Griffin had 20 and 14 rebounds and Paul added 16 points and 10 assists in a 107-100 win over Miami on Nov. 14.

James finished with 30 points in that contest, but Wade and Chris Bosh, who could play Friday after sitting out Wednesday because of the flu, shot a combined 5 for 23 from the field. Wade finished with a season-low six points and five turnovers.

James scores 30 again, Heat top Clippers 111-89

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Feb 09 2013 1:09AM

MIAMI (AP) A few moments after getting hit in the face, LeBron James was shaken up to the point where he didn't even bother contesting a jump ball.

It was about the only play he took off all night.

James scored 30 points in another efficient performance, Dwyane Wade scored 20 and the Miami Heat dominated the middle two quarters on the way to an easy 111-89 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

James shot 9 for 11, giving him 37 makes on his last 47 attempts, and sat out the fourth quarter. It was his fourth straight 30-point game, tying him with Wade as the only Heat players with such a streak in the franchise's 25-year history.

"He's off the planet right now," Wade said of James. "He's not even the best basketball player on the planet. He's surpassed the planet. He's somewhere else. He's playing phenomenal."

It was the first time in James' career that he scored at least 30 points on 11 or fewer field-goal attempts. According to STATS LLC, it was only the 13th such game in the NBA since the start of the 2002-03 season.

"Just confident in my ability," James said. "It was great to see, when you put in a lot of work and you implement it into a game situation. Just play your game. That's what I'm doing right now. Just playing my game."

When it comes to this type of roll, James isn't interested in figuring out how it's happening.

"Nope," James said. "It's nothing to figure out for me. I go out, see what the pace of the game is bringing and you go out and figure it out on the fly. I don't predetermine anything. If the defense backs up, I shoot. They come up on me, I drive. My teammates are open, I find my teammates. The game flows for me that way, and I'm just in that comfort place right now where I can go out and just play free."

Mario Chalmers finished with 18 points and Shane Battier scored 12 for Miami, which improved to 21-3 at home.

The Clippers got Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin back from injuries, but that trio of starters combined for only 23 points. DeAndre Jordan led Los Angeles with 17 points.

"We lost to a good team over there but we're not going to hang our heads," Paul said. "You never want to make excuses but they shot the lights out of the ball. We never really made an impact defensively. LeBron, Mario, all those guys were on a rocking chair all night."

Miami was without Chris Bosh and Ray Allen, both sidelined with the flu.

James made his first six shots, and his first miss came when Jordan was credited with a block on a play where he also struck the NBA's reigning MVP in the face, leaving him briefly shaken up.

Jordan won the ensuing tip uncontested, and capped that possession with a dunk to get Los Angeles within 10 at 64-54.

Three minutes later, Miami's lead was 24 - a 14-0 run put it away, and James took care of the first half of those points within a span of 37 seconds.

He connected on a 3-pointer while getting fouled by Jordan, then made another 3 on Miami's next possession. Wade followed with two highlight-reel plays, a two-handed slam on a baseline drive followed by an acrobatic turnaround jumper, and Chalmers connected on a 3-pointer to put the Heat up 78-54.

"We just have to stay together," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "It's a test right now. I thought we gave up too much space, too much respect. Obviously, Chris is trying to get back. He's got to take control of the game and physically right now he's not capable of doing that."

At one point in the third quarter, Miami was shooting 69 percent from the field and 68 percent from 3-point range for the game. The Heat cooled down the stretch, finishing at 53 percent from the floor and 56 percent from beyond the arc.

There was plenty of buzz pregame, for good reason - matchup of division leaders, teams looking to go deep into the postseason. And when the Clippers said before the game that Billups (left foot tendinitis), Paul (bruised right kneecap), Griffin (strained left hamstring) and Jamal Crawford (sore right shoulder) were all fit to return, it seemed as if a showdown was highly possible.

That thought didn't last for long.

"You can write this off that we got everybody back and we were a little rusty," Griffin said. "But we have to be better."

Miami's lead after the first quarter was 30-29. The Heat - who shot 68 percent in the first half - outscored the Clippers 63-39 in the next two quarters, turning things into quite a rout.

Crawford and Griffin each finished with 13 points for the Clippers.

"When the lights are bright and the popcorn's poppin', our guys come to life," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That's a great quality."

NOTES: Miami now has the best home record in the Eastern Conference, with Indiana losing on Friday night at home to Toronto. ... Heat F Udonis Haslem passed the 5,000-rebound mark for his career during the game. ... The Heat continue their L.A. Story at home on Sunday, playing host to the Los Angeles Lakers. ... Clippers F Caron Butler said before the game that he still enjoys playing in Miami, noting it was the Heat who "took a chance" on him coming into the league and it gives him a chance to see the NBA's "Godfather" in Heat President Pat Riley. ... Clippers backup C Ronny Turiaf got his NBA championship ring from the Heat in a brief pregame ceremony. ... Billups and Paul combined to shoot 3 for 10.

Notebook: Heat 111, Clippers 89

Zachary Paul, For NBA.com
Posted Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:38 PM - Updated Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:38 PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 111-89 Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat led by double-figures most of the way, with forward LeBron James and guard Dwyane Wade sitting most of the fourth quarter. Miami (33-14) led by as many as 32 in the third quarter, taking control with a strong start to the second half.

James led all scorers with 30 points and six assists and five rebounds. The Heat had no problem disposing of the Clippers (35-17) despite playing without Chris Bosh and Ray Allen, who were both out with the flu. It was the second straight game Bosh missed.

Wade, who was also dealing with flu-like symptoms, finished with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Guard Mario Chalmers outplayed Clippers guard Chris Paul, scoring 18 points on 5-for-9 shooting.

DeAndre Jordan led the Clippers with 17 points. Paul finished with just three points on 1-for-5 shooting in 19 minutes.

QUOTABLE: "It's all about controlling home, letting people know we have a home dominance."

--Heat forward LeBron James

THE STAT: The Heat shot 52 percent from the field, including 69 in the first half.

TURNING POINT: The Heat started the second half with a 16-4 run, turning the game into a rout. The Clippers trailed by double-digits the final 42 minutes.

HOT: James continued perhaps the best statistical week of his career with another high-percentage shooting night. He has shot 43-for-59 (72.9 percent) from the field in the last four games.

NOT: Paul looked every bit of a player who has missed 12 of the last 14 games due to injury. He never found a rhythm and was badly worked over by Chalmers. His frustrations reached a boil when he was called for a Technical in the third quarter for arguing with an official.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat are a much more dangerous team when receiving contributions from others besides Wade and James. Chalmers and Shane Battier scored in double-figures, while Rashard Lewis provided a spark in the first half.

BAD MOVE: The Clippers struggled defensively in the decisive first half. At times, it looked like shooting practice for the Heat. Miami scored the bulk of its points on dunks and open shots from the perimeter.

NOTABLE: James tied the franchise record with his fourth straight 30-point game. ... The Heat improved to 21-3 at home. ... Miami has made at least 10 3-pointers in 14 games this season, going 15-for-27 against the Clippers. ... Clippers center Ronny Turiaf, who played for the Heat last season, received his championship ring before the game.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Sunday vs. Lakers, Tuesday vs. Trail Blazers, Thursday @ Thunder. For the Clippers, Sunday @ Knicks, Monday @ Sixers, Wednesday vs. Rockets.

• Clippers: Thompkins
• Heat: Bosh, Pittman

• Clippers: Griffin, Paul
• Heat: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #31 Scott Wall
• Attendance: 19902
• Duration: 2:28