- After Friday night's overtime scare against the scrappy Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat continue their five game road trip further out West to Portland. The Heat have lost five of the last six games against the Blazers and 17 of the first 18 games between the teams.
- Either Portland's 9 game home winning streak or Miami's run of 12 straight road victories will end tonight. The Blazers are a perfect 4-0 against Eastern teams at home. The Heat have won 8 of 9 on the road in the West and 20 of 21 overall. Only 6 of those 20 victories came with single-digit scoring margins. Not to be outdone, the Blazers have overcome the annual Greg Oden season-ending injury and the crushing news of Brandon Roy's knee issues by winning 8 or their last 11 games in his absence. Wesley Matthews has picked up the slack since Roy had his latest setback by averaging 18.2 points during those 11 games. He scored a career high 26 points in their last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- There are only five NBA teams who score less than Portland's average of 95.2 and they're also 22nd in the league in total rebounds with 40.6 a game. The Heat are currently second in the league in points allowed with just 92.
- The most interesting matchup in this game may very well be Chris Bosh vs LaMarcus Aldridge but keep an eye on Andre Miller who has had his way with the Heat PG duo of Carlos Arroyo and Mario Chalmers in the past.
- The homesick Spaniard guard Rudy Fernandez is day-to-day with a stomach virus. Roy, Oden and Elliot Williams are out for the Blazers.
Probable Heat starters: Carlos Arroyo, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Probable Blazers starters: Andre Miller, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby
Tipoff - 9 p.m., Rose Garden, Portland
TV - Sun Sports. Radio - WAXY (790-AM), WQBA (1140-AM, Spanish)