Injury Report:

For Miami, starting forward Shane Battier will miss at least a week with a sprained right MCL. Dexter Pittman is out indefinitely with a strained quadriceps.

Brooklyn sat Brook Lopez and Tornike Shengelia last night against the Magic with various ailments. They may play tonight.

Starting Lineup:

Miami Heat: (MPG, PPG, RPG, APG, SPG, BPG) PER

PG - Mario Chalmers (26.4, 6.8, 2.6, 4.6, 1.7, 0.2) 12.1

SG -Dwyane Wade (33.7, 18.2, 4.4, 4.7, 1.3, 0.8) 19.4

SF - Rashard Lewis (16.1, 6.8, 2.1, 0.6, 0.5, 0.1) 13.8

PF - LeBron James (37.3, 25.0, 8.9, 6.5, 1.1, 0.9) 28.4

C - Chris Bosh (34.0, 20.1, 8.4, 1.4, 0.7, 1.3) 24.4

Brooklyn Nets

PG - Deron Williams (35.6, 15.7, 3.1, 8.7, 1.0, 0.6) 18.5

SG - Joe Johnson (37.8, 15.8, 2.9, 3.9, 0.7, 0.2) 13.9

SF - Gerald Wallace (30.0, 9.0, 3.5, 2.5, 2.0, 0.8) 13.1

PF - Kris Humphries (24.7, 7.9, 8.2, 0.6, 0.3, 0.9) 16.0

C - Brook Lopez (29.7, 18.5, 6.8, 0.8, 0.5, 2.5) 24.0

Common Thread:

38-year old Net Jerry Stackhouse played 50 minutes over seven games for Miami in 2010-11, scoring 12 points with seven rebounds and three assists.

Splits:

Through 16 career games against the Heat, Nets guard Deron Williams has averaged 17.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 8.2 dimes in just over three quarters per contest.

In just under three quarters per game over 47 career contests, Heat guard Ray Allen averages 18.1 points, 4.8 boards and 3.4 assists against Brooklyn.

Milestones:

Joel Anthony is holding on 1,061 career rebounds, eight behind 19th place Bimbo Coles.

Birthdays:

Original Heatster Billy Thompson turns 49 today. The forward averaged 13.8 points per game over his six season NBA career.

Musical Reference:

Maybe this one was just a little too easy - No Sleep Till Brooklyn

Prognostication:

The Nets have the guns to play the Heat straight up. They've gone 10-2 with two five-game win streaks since Miami put a 30-point hurting on them a month ago. Miami would do wisely to not take them lightly, still the Nets are trying to invade the house of the Champs. Look for Lopez to open up on Miami with 24 points and 12 rebounds, along with three blocks for the Nets, while Dwyane Wade remembers who he is and leads the Heat with 28 points. Miami by seven.