Miami Heat look for fifth win versus Houston Rockets
Preview of the Miami Heat’s matchup versus the Houston Rockets.
Heat (27-21) @ Rockets (25-25)
Where: Toyota Center, Houston
When: Tuesday, February 2, 8:00 PM EST
Watch: NBAt, SUN, RTSW
The Miami Heat have won a season-best four in a row and are looking to continue their winning streak as they head to Houston on Tuesday night.
This will be the second time these two teams face off, with the Heat walking away with a 109-89 home victory the first time around; in the third game of Miami’s 2015-16 season, big man Hassan Whiteside finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds, while Dwyane Wade totaled 20 points and 8 assists.
Although following the team’s 107-85 Sunday afternoon victory against the Atlanta Hawks, it was announced that Tyler Johnson will be having shoulder surgery to repair a rotator cuff injury, the Heat are still at the healthiest they have been in quite some time. Goran Dragic has already returned from dealing with a strained hamstring, and Hassan Whiteside is getting closer to coming back from his hip injury, too.
While Wade was named Eastern Conference Player Of The Week following a five-game performance of averaging 23.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists on 50 percent shooting, Dwight Howard has been ejected from the Rockets’ last two games.
As Miami is trying to climb its way back to the top of the Eastern Conference by battling it out with the No.3 Chicago Bulls, Houston is sitting at seventh in the West, three games behind the Dallas Mavericks.
Matchup to Watch: Dwyane Wade vs. James Harden
No matter how you slice it, Wade is the heart and soul of the Heat right now. Averaging 18.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game, whatever youth potion the 34-year-old is drinking, is working.
Unfortunately, Harden is also having one heck of a season.
The guard is totaling an average of 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Miami was able to hold him to 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists the first time they faced off against one another, but without aggressive play from the likes of Wade, that will not be possible the second time around.
Defensively, Wade needs to first limit how much time Harden spends behind the arc, as well as stop him from successfully dishing out the ball to complete plays. And on offense? Well, he just needs to score.
X-Factor: Chris Bosh
For now, Whiteside seems to be a game-time decision. But even if he does return, the center may need a few games to get his rhythm back. Therefore, Bosh needs to step up on both ends of the floor.
Howard did not play during the first matchup, therefore making things a little easier on the Heat. He is not only scoring an average of 14.4 points a game, but is also pulling down 11.8 rebounds.
Bosh, who is currently averaging 19.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists, recorded only 10 points and 8 rebounds against the Rockets in November. That may not do the trick this time.
The good news is, Amar’e Stoudemire has recently found his groove, averaging 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds on 59.5 percent shooting over the last six games. But even so, his minutes are limited: the 33-year-old is only playing around 13.5 minutes a night. In other words, Wade is going to be counting primarily on Bosh to not only help him keep things afloat offensively, but also be strong on defense as well.
Key Stats:
Miami Heat offensive efficiency: T-20th, 101.7 points per 100 possessions
Miami Heat defensive efficiency: 5th, 99.8 points per 100 possessions
Houston Rockets offensive efficiency: 7th, 104.3 points allowed per 10 possessions
Houston Rockets defensive efficiency: T-27th, 106.4 points allowed per 100 possessions