Houston Chronicle

Scouting report: at Miami Heat

-

When/where: 7 p.m. today; American Airlines Arena. TV/radio: ATTSW, TNT; 790 AM, 740 AM, 850 AM (Spanish), 101.7 FM (Spanish). Rockets (16-14) update: The Rockets are 3-2 in the second half of back-to-backs this season. … The Rockets won both games against the Heat last season, but have not won three straight against Miami since the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons … James Harden averaged 34.5 points against the Heat last season. … Center Nene, who sat out Wednesday’s game in the first half of the back-to-back, is expected to play in Miami. … The Rockets won their first four games with Eric Gordon starting in a three-guard lineup with Harden and Chris Paul. … Forward James Ennis III (strained right hamstring) is out. Heat (13-16) update: The Heat won four games on a six-game road trip. They return home with a 5-9 record in Miami. … The Heat have played seven consecutiv­e games against Western Conference teams, and are 8-4 against the West this season. … The Heat rank third in secondchan­ce points, averaging 15.4 per game and rank fourth in offensive rebounding percentage. They allow the thirdmost points off turnovers and second-chance points in the NBA. … The Heat bench has averaged 52.5 points in the past 11 games and ranks eighth in scoring off the bench, averaging 43.2 points. … Center Hassan Whiteside leads the NBA in blocked shots, averaging 2.88 per game. He is third in rebounding, averaging 13.3. … Guard Justise Winslow (right ankle pain) is questionab­le. Guard Tyler Johnson (migraine) is probable. Guards Goran Dragic (right knee surgery) and Dion Waiters (left ankle) are out. Statistica­lly speaking: 35 – points by Dwyane Wade, 36, against Toronto, making him the oldest player in NBA history to score 35 in fewer than 35 minutes off the bench.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States