HHH GameTime Preview: Miami Heat Vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Miami Heat will host the Dallas Mavericks tonight at the AAA, at 7:30 PM EDT for the first of two contests between them this season. The HEAT will go on to visit Dallas on February 18th, and is currently finishing up a four game homestand. After starting out with their third straight win, a 102-97 affair over the Los Angeles Clippers last Thursday, they dropped a 111-110 stunner to the Boston Celtics on Saturday. Miami destroyed the Milwaukee Bucks in their last game on Tuesday by a score of 118-95. Tomorrow, they'll face the Bobcats in Charlotte before returning to South Beach.

The Mavericks defeated the Washington Wizards in Dallas on Tuesday, 105-95 in a one-game homestand. Their current road trip is a short one, concluding tomorrow against the Magic in Orlando.

The Mavs and the HEAT last faced off on January 2nd last season. The visiting 13-19 Mavs were hoping to derail the 21-8 HEAT, and almost succeeded, playing Miami to a 103-103 draw after 48 minutes. Miami pulled away in the extra frame for a final of 119-109. LeBron James posted game highs with 32 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Dwyane Wade added 27 points with 10 boards, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals, and Chris Bosh scored 17 points with four rebounds and three blocks. Ray Allen came off the bench for 15 points and seven rebounds. The Mavs were led by 30 points from since-departed OJ Mayo. * Full Recap * Box Score

SokmIN NBA 1 2 13 Dallas Mavericks Vs Miami Heat Highlights (via SokMin Woo)

HEAT coach Erik Spoelstra spoke afterward about long distance shooting:

What I liked about it is we were missing so many wide open 3-pointers the first half and then through three quarters, but we still found the trust to hit Shane [Battier] for a couple big ones and Ray [Allen] for a big one as well.

Read more about the Mavericks at Mavs Moneyball

On Tuesday, the HEAT made short work of the Milwaukee Bucks, 118-95. LeBron James led Miami on 13-of-21 shooting, including four-of-seven from deep for 33 points in 30 minutes. Michael Beasley came off the bench for his most extensive game action of the season, scoring 19 points on eight-of-12 shooting in as many minutes. Mario Chalmers scored 15 with a game high seven assists, and Dwayne Wade only put up eight points, but also led the team with eight boards, adding five assists, two blocks, and two steals. Gary Neal and John Henson each scored 18 off the bench to lead the Bucks. * Full Recap * Box Score

NBA CIRCLE - Milwaukee Bucks Vs Miami Heat Highlights 12 Nov. 2013 www.nbacircle.com (via NBACIRCLETODAY)

Coach Spoelstra talked later about rebounding from the tough loss to the Celtics on Sunday.

That's been a long 48 hours in this building but at least we were able to respond with a better game. I think our guys felt better looking each other in the eyes in the locker room tonight.

For more on Milwaukee, go to Brew Hoop.

In Dallas' last game, a 105-95 road win over the Washington Wizards, the Mavs were led by 19 points each from Dirk
Nowitzki and Monta Ellis. The ageless Vince Carter came off the bench for 16 points. The Wizards were led by 27
points from Trevor Ariza and 12 points with 12 rebounds from Marcin Gortat. * Full Recap * Box Score

NBA CIRCLE - Washington Wizards Vs Dallas Mavericks Highlights 12 Nov. 2013 www.nbacircle.com (via NBACIRCLETODAY)

Nowitzki, who passed Jerry West into 16th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, reflected afterward:

Jerry [West] is the man, he is the logo and that says it all. It has been a great ride, this is my 16th season and
hopefully I can pass a couple of more guys and win a couple more games and hopefully help this franchise make
the playoffs.

Check out Bullets Forever for more on the Wizards.

Game Time: 7:30 PM ET

Broadcast: LEAGUE PASS, SunSpM, FSSW-DAL

Radio: NBA Game Time Audio, WAXY 103.3 FM, ESPN

All-Time Series: Dallas holds the edge in the series, winning 29 times to Miami's 24 victories.

Season Series: First of two meetings

Standings:

Miami Heat: 5-3, .625, on pace for a 51-31 season. First in the Southeast Division, Second in the Eastern Conference, tied for sixth in the NBA. Last Five: w w w l w.

Dallas Mavericks: 5-3, .625, on pace for a 51-31 season. Tied for second in the Southwest Division, tied for sixth in the Western Conference, tied for seventh in the NBA. Last Five: w l l w w.

HEAT Milestones:

Player	Rank/Games	Rank/Points	Rank/Boards	Rank/Assists	Rank/Steals	Rank/Blocks
Allen	74 86	56 940	79 240	61 158	59 72	75 16
Andersen	108 50	104 259	87 203	128 22	104 19	42 52
Anthony	11 373	59 908	16 1,173	81 88	38 108	4 454
Battier	50 145	61 823	66 337	60 161	37 109	23 91
Beasley	40 162	21 2,314	23 938	56 186	34 121	24 87
Bosh	24 215	13 3,816	12 1,639	30 379	23 179	12 206
Chalmers	10 374	15 3,162	24 874	5 1,363	4 560	48 50
Cole	45 153	56 940	78 244	39 321	39 105	100 10
Haslem	1 675	8 5,972	1 5,172	18 643	9 380	11 217
James	21 225	7 6,034	11 1,736	4 1,550	10 373	15 169
Jones	18 247	49 1,038	65 338	74 112	60 71	42 52
Lewis	96 62	98 318	102 133	103 43	95 26	84 14
Mason	166 4	188 3	194 1	175 2	185 0	174 0
Oden	201 0	201 0	198 0	190 0	185 0	174 0
Wade	2 672	1 16,582	4 3,399	1 4,085	1 1,197	2 673

* James is two rebounds short of Miami's all-time top 10.

* Chalmers just moved into a tie for fourth place with his 560th steal.

Today in HEAT history

Miami is 5-7 when playing on November 15th.

1988 - Celtics 84, HEAT 65
1989 - Pistons 130, HEAT 94
1991 - HEAT 120, Hornets 105
1994 - HEAT 115, Mavericks 102
1995 - Pacers 103, HEAT 97
1996 - Hawks 85, HEAT 77
1997 - HEAT 96, Nuggets 93
2000 - Nets 93, HEAT 91
2001 - Knicks 83, HEAT 74
2002 - Nets 93, HEAT 84
2005 - HEAT 109, HEAT 102, OT
2012 - HEAT 98, Nuggets 93

Birthdays

Bob Dandridge, a four-time all-star small forward in the 1970's for the Bucks and the Bullets, turns 66 today. He averaged 18.5 points per game over 13 NBA seasons.

Starting Lineups

HEAT

PG - Mario Chalmers
PF - LeBron James
C - Chris Bosh
SF - Shane Battier
SG - Dwyane Wade

Mavs

PG - Jose Calderon
PF - Dirk Nowitzki
C - Samuel Dalembert
SF - Shawn Marion
SG - Monta Ellis

HEAT Leaders

Points: LBJ - 25.5, DWade - 18.4, BOSH - 17.3
Rebounds: BOSH - 6.4, LBJ - 5.5, DWade - 5.0
Assists: LBJ - 7.3, Rio - 5.3, DWade - 5.1
Steals: Rio - 2.3, DWade - 2.0, 'shard, RayRay - 0.7
Blocks: BOSH - 1.6, Birdman - 1.0, DWade - 0.9
PER: LBJ (291 minutes) - 27.1, BOSH (216 minutes) - 22.1, Rio (222 minutes) - 19.2, DWade (240 minutes) - 18.8, RayRay (194 minutes) - 17.4

Trends

Over his last five games, Chris Andersen has made 16-of-21 shots (.762) for 42 points with 22 boards and six blocked shots.

Mario Chalmers has made at least one three-pointer in every game this season, and is shooting 57.7% from that distance (15-for-26). He also has at least six helpers in four of his last five games.

In 32 minutes of play, Michael Beasley has scored 35 points on 15-of-23 shooting. He currently is sporting a 35.5 PER.

LeBron James has sunk 22 of his last 34 field goal attempts over his last two games (.647)

That's all I got for today. Tune in tonight for what should be a very entertaining matchup, and join us here in the Game Thread at 6:30. In the meantime, if you'd like, check out what they're saying about us at Mavs Moneyball.