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Heat host Denver

Mar 14, 2014 - 2:05 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat were able to stop a season-high three- game losing streak, but fell right back into the loss column.

The Heat aim to pick themselves up Friday night with the Denver Nuggets in town and dropped a 96-95 decision to Brooklyn on Wednesday. Two nights after defeating Washington in the opener of a four-game homestand, the Heat fell to 0-3 against the Nets this season.

Brooklyn had an 87-81 lead about midway through the fourth quarter, but the Heat cut it to 96-95. Miami had possession of the ball following a timeout with 3.5 seconds left, but Nets guard Shaun Livingston knocked away a pass intended for LeBron James in the paint to seal the outcome.

James scored 19 points and Chris Bosh netted a team-high 24 points. Dwyane Wade had 22 points for the Heat.

"We still feel confident about our game. We just need to put it together," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The Heat already clinched a playoff berth and sit two games behind Indiana for the East's top seed. They are 25-5 at home (8-2 vs. West) and will close the stay Sunday afternoon versus Houston.

Denver will continue its five-game road trip (1-2) and recorded a 120-112 win at Orlando the last time out on Wednesday.

Kenneth Faried (26), Wilson Chandler (21) and J.J. Hickson (20) all scored 20 or more points, while Ty Lawson chipped in 17 and 12 assists. Lawson is averaging 22.8 points and 10.8 assists in the last six games with four double- doubles in that time.

The Nuggets shot 51 percent to win for the fourth time in the last 17 tries.

"We just didn't want to go to Miami 0-3," Chandler said, looking forward to Friday's game against the Heat. "So we picked ourselves up. When we play defense our offense clicks."

Chandler's Nuggets are allowing 105.7 ppg, while the Heat are scoring 103.9 points this season.

Denver, which is in the midst of playing four in a row against Southeast foes, has a 12-20 road record and will close the trip in Atlanta on Saturday.

The Nuggets dropped a 97-94 decision the last time they faced Miami on Dec. 30 in the Mile High City. James and Lawson both scored 26 points in that one.

Miami has won three straight overall against Denver and is unbeaten in the previous three encounters at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat are 17-9 all- time against the Nuggets in games played down south.