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Rested Heat look for fourth in a row against Cavs

Nov 24, 2012 - 4:01 PM (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers head to Miami Saturday night to do battle with the defending champion Heat at American Airlines Arena.

The Heat have won three in a row and have been off, enjoying the holiday, since Wednesday night. On that night, they beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 113-106 in overtime, thanks to spectacular play from the Big Three.

LeBron James had 28 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Chris Bosh posted a double-double with 24 points and 17 boards and Dwyane Wade, who returned from a two-game absence with a foot injury, matched James' 28.

Miami blew the doors off the Bucks in the first quarter, 29-15, but let it go a bit. The Bucks won the second and third quarters and held a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter until the Heat raised the level of their game. The champs won overtime by seven for the victory.

"We got off to a great start. We really imposed our type of will in the beginning and got off to an 18-point lead. From there, we just relaxed," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

James has scored 20 in each of the first 12 games this season and it's probably no coincidence the Heat lead the NBA in scoring.

The Cavs, in only their second game without reigning Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving, lost their seventh game in the last eight on Friday night. They fell to the Orlando Magic, 108-104 in Orlando.

J.J. Redick went 8-for-8 from the foul line late in the game and the Magic had five players in double-figures. Cleveland had six players over 10 points on Friday, led by rookie Dion Waiters' 25.

"I tried to talk to him and say everything but he was just knocking shots down," Waiters said of Redick. "He was making some tough shots. I was telling him, 'Can you miss?' I was playing but I was serious, like miss a shot please, but he is a great shooter and he was able to knock shots down for his team."

Waiters has scored well in his last four games. He's gone over 15 points three times, including the 25 on Friday. That was Waiters' second-highest scoring performance as a pro.

Jeremy Pargo, who poured in 28 points in Wednesday's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, chipped 15 points and Anderson Varejao continues to be a monster with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Varejao leads the NBA with 14.0 rpg.

The Cavaliers, who own only one road victory all season, are the third-worst defensive team in the league. They finish their road trip Monday in Memphis against the Grizzlies.

The Heat, playing in the second of four consecutive home games, have won six of seven against the Cavs since James "brought his talents to South Beach."