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Heat try to get back on track against surging Nets

Jan 4, 2015 - 2:31 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Brooklyn Nets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA and will try to continue that momentum Sunday night when they visit American Airlines Arena to meet the Miami Heat.

Brooklyn has won three straight and six of its last seven, including three in a row as the visitor. In the process, the Nets clawed back to .500 for the first time since Nov. 13.

The Nets' winning streak reached three with a 100-98 victory in Orlando over the Magic on Friday.

Late in the third quarter, the Nets led by as many as 26, but they had to survive a furious fourth-quarter comeback. Orlando outscored Brooklyn 37-14 in the final period and cut its deficit down to one possession, but it could not hit a tying or go-ahead shot in the game's final minute.

Mason Plumlee led the Nets with 18 points and nine rebounds, and it was his reverse layup with 2:21 remaining that ended Orlando's 16-0 run to get back in the game.

"Better to learn in a win, but definitely a lot to learn from," said Plumlee. "Too many turnovers, I had five myself. Can't turn the ball over ... if you take care of that, it's not even a close game."

Brooklyn also got 16 points each from Brook Lopez and Deron Williams off the bench. The two have been coming off the bench during Brooklyn's great run. Joe Johnson added 14 points, including two clutch free throws in the closing seconds.

The Nets return home for three straight, starting Monday versus the Dallas Mavericks.

The Heat are in free-fall. They've dropped four straight and seven of their last nine. Miami dropped both contests on a short road trip and both were double-digit setbacks.

After an 11-point loss in Indiana, the Heat, the four-time reigning Eastern Conference champions, were destroyed by the Houston Rockets, 115-79, on Saturday.

"We're not trying to figure things out, we're just trying to win a game," said center Chris Bosh. "Just go out and get the job done. Do better, however possible."

Dwyane Wade and Bosh each netted 15 points to lead Miami. Hassan Whiteside added 14 off the bench and Luol Deng rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10.

The Heat led by four after the first quarter, but the Rockets clobbered them in the second to the tune of 38-22. The third quarter was even worse for Miami as the Rockets won the period, 33-11.

Houston led by 31 and benched most of its starters over the final 12 minutes.

The Heat, who head west for five games, starting Thursday, allowed the Rockets to shoot 50 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers, which Houston turned into 25 points. The Rockets hammered the Heat on the glass, 47-33.

The Heat have won both of this season's matchups, both of which took place in Brooklyn. The Nets took both of last season's regular-season contests in South Beach, but lost three times in the Eastern Conference semifinals.