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The LeBron James-led Miami Heat will visit the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at 7 p.m. But the story tonight isn't that the three-time MVP will once again play in his old stomping grounds and face the vitriol of the Cavs fans. Having cleared the hurdle in Boston to become the sole owner of the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, the Heat will try to win its 24th consecutive game.
If Miami didn't have a historic winning streak heading into tonight's game, a Heat fan might worry about a potential trap game. Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters -- who both played very well in Cleveland's Feb. 24 visit to Miami this season -- will sit out tonight with injuries. The Heat have played the Cavaliers twice this season, winning both games by a combined six points. But the fact that Miami now has the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' 33-game winning streak in its sights may mean that the Heat won't take this game lightly. Miami is a better team than this current incarnation of the Cavaliers and should win most games against Cleveland with relative ease. Of course, the Cavaliers may make a run and get the crowd into the game. But the Heat should respond with a run, like in Sunday's win over the Toronto Raptors.
James will play his old team for the 10th time since joining the Heat tonight. He's fresh off an amazing performance in Boston Monday night, when he brutally dunked over Jason Terry, hit the game-winning jumper over Jeff Green and finished with 37 points and 12 assists. The Heat players may go out of their way to give James chances to score, but they should not depart from the game plan. Miami has done a great job during this winning streak of passing up good shots for great shots. If that doesn't change and the Heat don't come into this game with a complacent attitude, Miami will have won 24 straight games after tonight.
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