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Miami looks to keep win streak alive against visiting Wizards

By David Dwork
Getty Images

With four games left on the schedule, the Miami Heat will look to continue their bid for 1st place in the Eastern Conference tonight when the Washington Wizards come to town. It's the first game in Miami's final back-to-back set of the season, as Sunday they'll welcome the Houston Rockets to South Beach in what will be their final home game of the regular season.

The Heat are on a 5 game winning streak, and have done so while resting its stars in preparation for the post season. Dwyane Wade, who has been slowed by injuries throughout the season, has sat out four of Miami's last eight games. The four he's missed were all against teams who are below .500, while the four he's played in were against playoff teams.

Wade has missed a total of fourteen games this season, but the Heat have fared just fine without him, holding a 13-1 record in games Dwyane hasn't played. Miami has also played their last two games without Chris Bosh, who has been held out for what Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called "minor bumps and bruises." LeBron James meanwhile has been playing every game, and playing quite well, making his final bid for league MVP.

GAME NOTES

  • The Heat are 27-4 at home. Washington is 7-24 on the road.
  • Miami is 1½ games behind the Chicago Bulls for 1st place in the Eastern Conference.
  • If the Heat win their final 4 games and the Bulls lose 1 of their final 3, Miami clinches the top spot in the East.
  • Chicago's final 3 games include two home games against the Mavericks and Cavaliers and a road game against Indiana.
  • LeBron James has led the Heat in scoring in each of their last 12 games, averaging 29.2 points in those contests.
  • Udonis Haslem leads Miami in offensive rebounds with 104, despite coming off the bench in almost all of the Heat's games this season.
  • Wizards guard John Wall is the sixth fastest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points and 1,000 assists.
  • Miami lists forward Chris Bosh (rest) and center Ronny Turiaf (knee) as game-time decisions.
  • As for Washington, forwards Andray Blatche (conditioning) and Trevor Booker (foot) are listed as day-to-day while forward Rashard Lewis (knee) is out.

Tipoff from the AAA is set for 7:30. The game will be broadcast locally on Sun Sports.

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