Final
Heat-Bucks Preview
Jan 29, 2016 - 6:08 AM An injury was a big reason why Dwyane Wade struggled against the Milwaukee Bucks last week. He seems just fine now.Wade looks to continue his outstanding stretch by leading the Miami Heat to their first win over the Bucks in nearly two years Friday night.
Bothered by shoulder soreness, Wade matched his season low with two points while missing 5 of 6 from the field and committing five turnovers in 21 minutes of a 91-79 home loss to Milwaukee on Jan. 19.
While the guard sat out a loss at Washington the following day, the injury doesn't seem to be an issue any more. Wade is averaging 25.7 points while hitting 50.8 percent in three games since returning.
He was outstanding Tuesday, scoring 27 points with eight assists, three steals and two blocks in a 102-98 win at Brooklyn.
"The coaches and my teammates put the ball in my hand to make plays or to score the basketball," Wade said. "That's what I do."
The same could be said of Chris Bosh, who was named to his 11th All-Star Game as an Eastern Conference reserve on Thursday. The Heat's leading scorer is averaging 22.4 points over the last five games, matching Wade's 27 against the Nets while they combined to score Miami's final 14 points.
"We have to be aggressive all the time, really, no matter who is in the game," Bosh said. "The team is looking for us to be effective all the time, especially late. That's our job.
"Dwyane, he's one of the best in the world at it. He's going to get his shot and he's usually going to make it. I just try to work off of him and shoot the ball with confidence and make plays when it's time."
Bosh scored 23 points against the Bucks last week, a total equaled by Hassan Whiteside, who added 18 rebounds. The center, though, has missed three straight games with a strained oblique and seems unlikely to play.
The Heat (25-21), however, are expected to have Goran Dragic (calf) back for the first time in nine games.
"It's finally over. I have no pain and I'm ready to go," Dragic told the team's official Twitter feed.
He was averaging 17.0 points on 52.8 percent shooting - 7 of 12 from beyond the arc - over his last three games before being sidelined.
Miami's five-game losing streak to the Bucks matches its longest in the all-time series set from March 4, 2003-Feb. 29, 2004.
Milwaukee (20-28) has dropped three of the past four games, but it's won nine of 12 at home. The Bucks won a fourth straight game there Tuesday, 107-100 against Orlando. They followed two days later with another awful performance on the road, trailing by as many as 25 points before falling 103-83 to Memphis while converting 1 of 16 3s.
Khris Middleton had 15 points and missed 12 of 18 shots after he averaged 23.6 points and hit 48.0 percent from the floor over the previous seven games. One of his best all-around performances over that stretch came at Miami on Jan. 19, scoring 22 points with seven rebounds and seven assists.
Greg Monroe had 15 points and 10 boards and is averaging 21.3 points on 56.9 percent shooting in four games since.
- MIAMI: 107
MILWAUKEE: 103
Final
Jan 29 10:33 PM - End of 4th Quarter.
Jan 29 10:33 PM - MIAMI: 81
MILWAUKEE: 83
End of 3rd
Jan 29 9:51 PM - End of 3rd Quarter.
Jan 29 9:51 PM - End of 1st Half.
Jan 29 9:09 PM - MIAMI: 55
MILWAUKEE: 48
Halftime
Jan 29 9:08 PM - End of 1st Quarter.
Jan 29 8:36 PM - MIAMI: 33
MILWAUKEE: 28
End of 1st
Jan 29 8:36 PM - Amar'e Stoudemire vs. Greg Monroe (Chris Bosh gains possession)
Jan 29 8:10 PM - MIAMI: 0
MILWAUKEE: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Jan 29 8:10 PM
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