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Heat aim to rebound in visit with Nets

Jan 10, 2014 - 3:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat hope New York treats them a little better on Friday night when they head to Barclays Center to take on the Brooklyn Nets.

The two-time defending champion Heat kicked off a six-game road trip along the eastern corridor with a 102-92 loss in Madison Square Garden Thursday night to the Knicks.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Miami.

The Knicks shot 63.2 percent and outscored Miami, 59-44, in the second half.

"They played great. They made some timely shots," LeBron James said. "I thought Raymond (Felton) played great defense and did a good job of putting those guys in positions to succeed."

James netted 32 points to go with six assists and five rebounds for the Heat, who had won five of their last six coming in. Dwyane Wade registered 23 points in defeat.

Norris Cole was the only other Heat player in double figures with 12 points. He started in place of the injured Mario Chalmers.

The Heat, who still managed to shoot 54.4 percent in defeat, will visit the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks on this sojourn.

Don't look now, but the Nets are just 3 1/2 games out of first in the Atlantic Division. Granted, it's the Atlantic Division, but Brooklyn has won four in a row and hasn't lost in 2014.

"The confidence is in the fight," Kevin Garnett told the Nets website. "Jason's (Kidd) done a great job of just continuing to explain what he wants out of this offense and I think we're picking it up slowly but surely."

Three of Brooklyn's four consecutive victories came at home and Friday will end a four-game homestand. The Nets will hit the road for three straight, starting in Toronto on Saturday.

The Nets' most recent victory came Wednesday night when they ended the Golden State Warriors' 10-game winning streak. Brooklyn walked off the court with a 102-98 win.

Golden State opened a 10-point lead after the first quarter, but Brooklyn thrashed the Warriors by 17 in the second, The Warriors fought back again, but the Nets held on for the win.

"It felt good," said Garnett. "I thought defensively we were sound. They came out and gave us a big blow in the first quarter and I thought we kept our composure and didn't fall back."

With Brook Lopez gone for the season and Deron Williams out with ankle issues, Joe Johnson led the way with 27 points. Garnett registered 11 of his 13 points in the fourth, while Andray Blatche added 17 for Brooklyn. Shaun Livingston had 13 points and four steals filling in for Williams.

The Nets beat the Heat by one in Brooklyn on Nov. 1. That ended a 13-game winning streak for Miami, which is only 3-4 against the Atlantic Division this season, over the Nets.