Final
Heat-Suns Preview
Jan 7, 2016 - 6:56 PM Management and players for the Phoenix Suns seem to have made clear what they think of Goran Dragic. Now it's the fans' turn.Dragic plays his first game in Phoenix since his unpleasant departure and will try to help the Miami Heat beat the Suns for an 11th straight time Friday night.
This may be a contentious affair after the first meeting following Dragic's trade to Miami included six technical fouls, three ejections and two altercations. Dragic played through back spasms and committed five fouls in less than 15 minutes but had 21 points in a 115-98 home victory March 2 which the point guard said afterward "means a lot."
That came less than two weeks after Dragic was shipped to Miami in a three-team deal. He had previously asked for a trade, unhappy with the direction of the Suns and getting fewer touches after the addition of Eric Bledsoe.
What further angered Phoenix brass was Dragic telling reporters, "I don't trust them anymore." Team president Lon Babby said the remarks were "unfair and I think unwarranted," and Dragic surely drew his ire again this week by reportedly saying the Suns tinker with their roster too much and are "always changing something."
At least one Phoenix player showed his distaste for Dragic in the last meeting. Markieff Morris was ejected early in the third for a flagrant-2 after shoving Dragic in the back on a fast break, resulting in a hard fall. Shortly thereafter, Heat center Hassan Whiteside and Suns big man Alex Len were tossed after a scuffle under the basket.
Whiteside's 17 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes keyed Miami's 10th straight win in the series, a run dating to Nov. 3, 2009, during Dragic's first stint with the Suns. The Heat's seven-game streak in Phoenix since January 2007 pre-dates Dragic's career.
Joining Miami hasn't led to Dragic rediscovering the superior form he displayed in 2013-14 when he made the All-NBA third-team after averaging 20.3 points. He's at 11.9 this season, shooting a career-worst 29.3 percent from 3-point range, and hasn't had 10 assists since March despite averaging 32.4 minutes - second on the team to Chris Bosh.
Bosh's strong play has lifted Miami (21-14) into the Southeast Division lead, and he's averaging 24.7 points in the last 10 games.
The Heat had won three straight and nine of 13 before a 98-90 home loss to New York on Wednesday. Bosh had 28 points but was 1 of 4 from 3-point range and Miami finished 2 of 17, though he was more concerned about the Knicks hitting 55.7 percent from the field - the highest by a Heat opponent this season. The previous three were held below 40.
"We're not good enough to just come in and show up," Bosh said. "We really have to get to our identity, play the way we're supposed to play. You give up 50-plus percent, good things are not gonna happen.
"... We've gotta get stops, that's what it's about. It's not about 3-point shooting."
A season-high 19 3-pointers keyed Phoenix (13-25) halting a nine-game skid Wednesday with a 111-102 win over Charlotte.
It was some much-needed relief for a Suns team which had been mired in its longest losing streak in nearly two years, during which Bledsoe (knee) was lost for the season, Morris was suspended two games for throwing a towel at coach Jeff Hornacek and two assistants were fired.
"Just get a win," said Hornacek, who became the eighth Suns coach to record 100 victories. "It's been a rough stretch for us."
- MIAMI: 103
PHOENIX: 95
Final
Jan 8 11:59 PM - End of 4th Quarter.
Jan 8 11:59 PM - MIAMI: 77
PHOENIX: 73
End of 3rd
Jan 8 11:20 PM - End of 3rd Quarter.
Jan 8 11:20 PM - MIAMI: 53
PHOENIX: 40
Halftime
Jan 8 10:41 PM - End of 1st Half.
Jan 8 10:41 PM - MIAMI: 21
PHOENIX: 20
End of 1st
Jan 8 10:06 PM - End of 1st Quarter.
Jan 8 10:05 PM - MIAMI: 0
PHOENIX: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Jan 8 9:41 PM - Hassan Whiteside vs. Tyson Chandler (Chris Bosh gains possession)
Jan 8 9:41 PM
Related News
- Shaquille O’Neal To Be First To Have Jersey Retired by Magic Jan 4
- LeBron James Has Been At His Best for Many Birthdays Dec 29
- Should we be worried that people with the Phoenix Suns can “feel the frustration with Durant”? Dec 26
- Suns vs. Mavs Final Score: Phoenix continues to struggle, lose 128-114 to Dallas Dec 26
- Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (14-15) vs. Mavs Post Game Podcast Dec 26
- Open Thread: Mavericks vs. Suns Dec 25
- Game Preview: Struggling Suns face struggling Mavericks in Christmas Day showdown Dec 25
- Stephen’s Study: Scouting Udoka Azubuike’s minutes against the Sacramento Kings Dec 25
- The Beal gamble isn’t paying off Dec 24
- Suns Week 9 Stock Exchange: Udoka gives us hope while coaching and three-point shooting do not Dec 24
- Suns Injury Update: Bradley Beal wants to be ready to go for Christmas Dec 23
- Vogel: “I’m not doing a good enough job in making sure [Eric Gordon]’s involved in the offense” Dec 23