The Miami Heat will end a four-game home stand tonight, when they square off against the Sacramento Kings at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Miami Heat, currently sitting at 3-2, are fresh off a big 120-111 win over the Portland Trailblazers.
In their Saturday night victory, the Heat got a vintage performance from Dwyane Wade in the first half. Wade scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field through the first two quarters, finishing the game with 19 points.
The Heat led by as much as 19 points in the second quarter, but Portland would eventually tie the game in the fourth and then take a late lead.
However, the Heat weathered the storm and were able to regain the lead and fend off the Trailblazers with some big-time 3-pointers from Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson and Rodney McGruder.
Dragic finished the game with a team-high 28 points, to go along with five assists and three rebounds, Kelly Olynyk stepped up with 19 points, five assists and five rebounds, Rodney McGruder chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Hassan Whiteside, despite only scoring five points, managed to still make a big impact with 16 rebounds and six blocks.
For the Sacramento Kings (3-3), they’re coming off of an 116-112 Friday night win over the Washington Wizards.
Nemanja Bjelica led the way with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. The Kings also received good contributions from Buddy Hield (22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), De’Aaron Fox (18 points, 9 assists), and Willie Cauley-Stein (17 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists).
This will be the first meeting between the Heat and Kings this season, with the second and final game of the season series scheduled for February 8 in Sacramento.
The Kings swept the Heat 2-0 in last season’s series, with Fox scoring clutch baskets in both contests.
This game is the first of a back-to-back for the Heat, that concludes Tuesday night in Charlotte to open a three-game road trip, and will be the Heat’s second of twelve back-to-back sets this season.
The Heat once again will be without the services of guard Dion Waiters (ankle) and forward James Johnson (hernia).
The Kings will be without Bogdon Bogdanovic (knee).
Both teams are entering this game riding two-game winning streaks, but the question is whether or not the Miami Heat can persevere against a Sacramento Kings team that has a group of young, talented players, who like to play fast.
We’ll find out tonight, as the Heat try and go for a third straight victory.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.