Away |
Home |
Miami |
Minnesota |
Heat |
Timberwolves |
52-23 |
Record |
17-58 |
(3rd of 30) 111.6 |
Off Rtg |
104.3 (24th of 30) |
(5th of 30) 103.9 |
Def Rtg |
110.4 (25th of 30) |
(20th of 30) 91.0 |
Pace |
96.4 (1st of 30) |
Likely Starters |
Mike Bibby |
PG |
Luke Ridnour |
Dwyane Wade |
SG |
Wesley Johnson |
LeBron James |
SF |
Michael Beasley |
Chris Bosh |
PF |
Kevin Love |
Erick Dampier |
C |
Darko Milicic |
Mike Miller |
6th |
Johnny Flynn |
Matchup Series 1-0 |
Target Center |
8:00 PM EST |
Sun Sports / 1080 AM- |
Injury Report: |
Heat: Haslem (indef), Chalmers (2 wks), Jones, Miller (d2d) |
Timberwolves: Love, Pekovic (d2d) |
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The Miami Heat are landing in Minnesota to face the young and speedy Timberwolves, the 3rd game in the 4-Team Lottery Road Tour. The last and only other time the teams met
Michael Beasley left the game with an injury, Kevin Love was held to 6 rebounds and the Heat were on a novelty drug giving them the boost to come out en fuego after halftime to blowout the Wolves 129-97.
Today, ex-teammate Michael Beasley leads the team in scoring with 20.3 PPG filling in the role of Abundant Scorer on Bad Team, Kevin Love remains the league leader in rebounds and the Timberwolves continue their speedy attacks leading the league in pace and rebounding.
A loss to Cleveland and a pacifist victory over the Wizards have not been the ideal result on this last run to the playoffs so tonight serves the perfect opportunity to get the job done quickly and efficiently. The Heat would benefit from steadily attacking the mis-matches, namely James-Beasley and Wade-Young Guard X, and preventing the fast break with smart shot selection and discipline in getting back on defense. *Unless* the Wolves decide to snap their 8-game losing streak by playing the game of their lives, the oldest team in the league taking on the youngest should be just another day in the office.