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Heat set for tough test in Utah

Dec 8, 2010 - 3:59 PM (Sports Network) - LeBron James and the Miami Heat face a tough test tonight when they resume a four-game road trip in EnergySolutions Arena against the Northwest Division-leading Utah Jazz.

The Heat won the opener of the trek and their season-high fifth straight overall on Monday in Milwaukee when Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, as Miami defeated the Bucks, 88-78.

Carlos Arroyo added 18 points, while James finished with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists for Miami, which is 6-1 since a three-game losing streak dropped the Eastern Conference favorites to 8-7 on November 24. Chris Bosh posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards in the victory.

"We understand that it takes defense to win," Wade said. "That's our identity as a team."

The Heat, who are now 4-5 as the visitor on the year and will finish their trip with visits to Golden State and Sacramento, have yet to top an opponent with a winning record away from South Beach, falling in Boston, New Orleans, Orlando and Dallas.

The Jazz, meanwhile, improved to 3-1 on a six-game homestand Monday when Deron Williams scored 27 points and dished out eight assists, as Utah dumped the Memphis Grizzlies, 94-85.

C.J. Miles added 20 points off the bench for the Jazz, who are 16-6 overall. Raja Bell donated 14 points and Al Jefferson chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds for Utah, which has won eight of nine.

"I think they played pretty hard," Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan said. "They hung in there with us most of the night. They played a tough game last night so, it was a nice win for us. It wasn't a pretty win, but we take them any way we can get them."

Utah, which is a solid 9-4 in Salt Lake City, will finish its residency against Orlando on Friday.

The Jazz have taken two straight over Miami, including a thrilling 116-114 overtime win in South Beach back on Nov. 9 when they roared back from a 19- point, third-quarter deficit behind Paul Millsap's career-high 46 points, 11 of which came in the final 28 seconds of regulation.