Game Preview: Heat head to Dallas looking to end three game losing streak

The Miami Heat (25-30) take on the Dallas Mavericks (26-30), in what is game five of the six-game road trip. The Heat are currently one game back of the Detroit Pistons (26-29) who occupy the eighth seed, and with the All-Star break upon us, they will be hoping to snap the three-game skid and hope to take a much-needed win in Dallas.

Heat face a Mavericks team who have won six of their last ten and holds a very respectable 20-8 winning home record.

Dallas is of course led by Luka Dončić, who leads the team in scoring with 20.8 points per game. Dončić has been in spectacular form in his rookie season and not only is he the favorite for the Rookie of The Year crown, but he was also very close to being rewarded with an All-Star appearance. The 19-year-old has taken the league by storm, and the Heat will need to isolate him if they are to come away with a win.

Tonight’s game will be the first of two meetings on the year, and it will also mean Miami will have faced all teams in the league. Last season, it was the Heat who claimed the series win by sweeping the Mavericks 2-0. Erik Spoelstra’s team have also won 12 of the previous 14 contests between the two, so Dallas has been a welcome opponent in the past.

Probable Starters:

Heat: Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters, Josh Richardson, Kelly Olynyk, Hassan Whiteside

Dallas: Jalen Brunson, Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber

Injury Report:

Heat: Dwyane Wade (illness) - Questionable, Goran Dragic (knee) - Out, Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) - Out

Dallas: J.J. Barea (right achilles surgery) is out; Kristaps Porzingis (left knee surgery) is out.

Broadcast Info:

Tip-Off: 8:30pm

TV: Fox Sports Sun (Eric Reid, John Crotty, Jason Jackson)

Radio: The Ticket 790AM & The HEAT Radio Network (Mike Inglis)

Spanish Radio: WAQI 710AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)