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Heat, Bucks battle at Bradley Center

Dec 5, 2014 - 2:39 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat will be on the road for the next five games, starting with Friday's encounter with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Heat will also make stops in Memphis, Phoenix, Denver and Utah, and have lost two straight and three of their last four games.

Miami suffered a 112-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday and were led by Dwyane Wade's 28 points, seven assists and two steals. Chris Bosh had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Mario Chalmers chipped in 19 points and a game- best 11 assists.

"For the most part, the effort is there," Wade said. "I think we have to be a little bit smarter."

The Heat shot 56.3 percent from the floor, but committed 19 turnovers for 23 Atlanta points. They fell to 5-2 this season when scoring 100 or more points and are now 5-1 when making 50 percent or better from the field.

Wade has scored 20 or more points in seven straight games and has shot at least 50 percent in the past nine.

In injury news for the Heat, guard Norris Cole (illness) is questionable Friday and forward Luol Deng (hand) is doubtful.

Miami is 5-3 away from south Florida this season.

Milwaukee will try to put the brakes on a three-game slide and is coming off Wednesday's 107-105 loss to Dallas. Mavs guard Monta Ellis buried the game- winning jumper as time expired.

The Bucks shot a season-high 62.5 percent in the first half, but made 25 percent from the field in the third quarter and scored 14 points. Brandon Knight tied the game at 105-105 with 8.9 seconds to go, but Ellis knocked down a shot over O.J. Mayo to win it.

"It was a tough shot, he made it," said Bucks coach Jason Kidd. "That's how basketball goes."

Knight paced the Bucks with 25 points and Khris Middleton registered 21 points off the bench. Mayo had 12 points in a losing effort.

Milwaukee, which lost by three at Cleveland on Tuesday, has dropped three straight following a three-game winning streak and will play six of the next seven games on the road. The Bucks will visit Dallas on Sunday.

The Bucks have a young roster and will take on a veteran Miami group with Wade and Bosh. Knight leads Milwaukee with 17.9 points and rookie Jabari Parker is second with 12.2 ppg.

Miami dropped a 91-84 decision to the Bucks at home on Nov. 16, as Knight led six players in double figures with 20 points and Milwaukee halted a five-game slide in the series. Chalmers had 18 points in that one to pace the Heat, who did not have Wade and are still 11-5 in the previous 16 games in this series

The Heat, who went 3-0 against Milwaukee last season, have won two straight and 10 of the past 15 games at the Bradley Center.