• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Heat could be strapped against Nets

Dec 16, 2014 - 3:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat could be without two of their big guns when they visit the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday at the Barclays Center.

Chris Bosh missed his last game with a strained calf and is out indefinitely. He leads the team with 21.6 points and 8.2 rebounds. Dwyane Wade is second on the team with 21.1 points and is questionable with an illness.

The Heat have lost six of their last eight games and suffered a 93-75 setback to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, as Wade scored 17 points in defeat. Luol Deng posted 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Mario Chalmers added 11 for Miami, which shot just 35 percent and committed 15 turnovers.

Miami was outscored by a 33-16 difference in the third quarter and trailed 72-48 heading into the fourth quarter.

"It was a tough second half," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "We came out flat. That was pretty clear."

The Heat are in good shape when they score 100 points, going 7-2, and have a 7-1 mark when shooting at least 50 percent from the field. They will try to improve on their 94.2 points per game average tonight in Brooklyn.

After visiting the Nets, Miami will return home for seven straight games, including a matchup with former star LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day.

Brooklyn has won two in a row and four of its last seven games, and recorded a 114-87 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday thanks to Joe Johnson's team-leading 22 points.

Johnson was one of seven players to finish with double digits in scoring, as Deron Williams posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists, and Alan Anderson supplied 17 points off the bench. Jarrett Jack (14), Bojan Bogdanovic (12), Cory Jefferson (11) and Mason Plumlee (11) rounded out the double-figure scorers. Plumlee grabbed 13 rebounds for Brooklyn, which shot a sizzling 58.3 percent and made 16-of-23 3-pointers.

Johnson, Anderson and Bogdanovic all hit four 3-pointers and Williams three.

"It has been a while since we have been on the right side of a blowout," said Williams.

Nets forward Mirza Teletovic (hip/facial laceration) has missed three straight games and is questionable Tuesday. He is averaging 10.7 ppg.

The Nets are 5-6 at home and will visit Toronto and Cleveland next. They posted season highs in several categories against the Hornets and hope it carries over into this matchup with Miami.

Brooklyn and Miami will play the second of four games this season, and the Heat posted a 95-83 road victory over the Nets on Nov. 17. Chalmers had 22 points and the Heat played without Wade and Deng. Bogdanovic posted 22 points in that one for the Nets.

The Nets swept all four regular-season meetings last season against the Heat, but fell in five games during the Eastern Conference semifinals. Miami is 12-3 in the last 15 games as the visitor in this series.