Preview: After encouraging win, Heat visit Atlanta

Last night's 105-100 victory over the Houston Rockets marked the first time ever that Miami's projected starting lineup -- Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside -- played together. It was an encouraging sign -- remember, Chris Bosh was diagnosed with a blood clot just hours after Miami traded for Dragic.

Tonight, the Heat will visit the Southeast Division foe Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. Wade has said that he won't play back-to-back sets during the preseason, so expect him to get the night off.  As with any preseason game, the goal isn't necessarily to win but to see new players work together and see which fringe players can make the team and crack a rotation spot.

Josh McRoberts sat out Saturday night's game -- now having missed the past week of preseason action. It would be encouraging to see him play some tonight, especially after the season-ending injury he sustained last year. No coach wants to run his players into the ground in preseason action and risk injury, but it's good to see players compete outside of a practice court.

Hassan Whiteside's 12-point, nine-rebound performance in 26 minutes of work last night was great to see after coming back from a calf injury. Hopefully, we'll see some more positive signs tonight.

Probable Starters:

Heat:

• Justise Winslow
• Chris Bosh
• Hassan Whiteside
• Gerald Green
• Mario Chalmers

Hawks:

• Dennis Schroder
• Kyle Korver
• Justin Holiday
• Tiago Splitter
• Al Horford

Broadcasting Info

TV:

Fox Sports Sun

Radio:

HEAT Radio Network/790 AM