Heat Vs Nuggets: Preview, Game Time and More

The Miami Heat will be visiting the Denver Nuggets tonight at 10:30 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Tonight will mark the second and final meeting of the season between the two clubs. The Heat will be playing in the fifth game of a six game road trip. After securing a fourth straight victory by beating the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, 95-89, they dropped a 104-86 decision to the Memphis Grizzlies before rebounding with a win over the Rockets in Houston on Monday, 113-110. Last night, the Clippers proved too much for the Heat, setting Miami down by seven. The Heat will finish up their trip with a 9:00 contest on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns. The Nuggets lost three straight before winning four straight to start the season. They're coming off a 10 point win over the Suns on Monday night.

The teams last met on November 3rd at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Here's NBA.COM's official recap.

The Heat defeated the Nuggets 119-116 at AmericanAirlines Arena tonight.

Center Chris Bosh scored a game-high 40 points, but it was a jumpshot by Ray Allen with 6.7 seconds left that propelled the Heat to victory. With the Heat trailing by one, Allen made a 3-pointer from the corner and was fouled by Nuggets guard Corey Brewer. Allen made the free throw to complete the four-point play and put the Heat ahead by three.

Denver had a chance to tie, but Danilo Gallinari missed a long 3-pointer while being guarded by LeBron James. Allen finished with a season-high 23 points while James had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade finished with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting. The Nuggets had seven players in double figures, led by Andre Iguodala and Kenneth Faried, who each had 22 points.

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Denver Nuggets vs Miami Heat | Game Recap | NBA 2012-13 Season (via Marques Hernandez)

Ray Allen spoke afterward about his game winning three pointer (and one):

"I got to that corner. (Corey) Brewer helped and turned his head just one split second and LeBron found me. It was curtains."

Last night, Miami visited the Clippers to try and reverse a losing trend at Staples Center. Here's an excerpt from the NBA.COM recap:

In their toughest test yet of this young NBA season, the Los Angeles Clippers measured themselves against the Miami Heat and liked how they stacked up.

Blake Griffin and Chris Paul had double-doubles, with Paul keying a third-quarter spurt that helped carry the Clippers to a 107-100 victory on Wednesday night. They have wins over Memphis, the Lakers, San Antonio and now the defending NBA champions in their first eight games.

"These wins are good, but we're playing at home and we expect to win," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Griffin had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Paul had 16 points and 10 assists to lead five players in double figures in the Clippers' fourth straight win. Jamal Crawford added 22 points off the bench.

"We can even be better," Griffin said. "We can't rest on a win like that."

Obviously Griffin has been listening to Paul, who cautions an even-keeled approach.

"It's early, very early," Paul said. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves. Just keep playing the right way every night."

LeBron James scored 30 points for the defending NBA champions, who lost their fifth in a row against the Clippers in Los Angeles. Ray Allen added 14 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Heat dropped to 2-2 on their current six-game trip.

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Miami Heat Vs LA Clippers | November 14, 2012 | Full Highlights | 11/14/2012 | NBA 2012/13 Season (via NBAshowtimeHD)

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was succinct when questioned about the Clippers performance:

"We view them as legit contenders for the title."

The Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns in their last game, winning by 10 on the road in a match that left both teams at 4-4 on the young season. Partial recap courtesy of NBA.COM:

The Phoenix Suns need to hit some shots. The Denver Nuggets need some home games.

The Suns got what they wanted, hitting enough clutch shots to fend off the visiting Nuggets 110-100 Monday night.

Both teams are now 4-4.

In coming from 10 points back early (16-6), the Suns knocked off a team that has killed them the past two seasons. The Nuggets had won six straight against Phoenix; the Suns' last win against them was two years ago (Nov. 15, 2010).

The Suns, usually one of the NBA's top shooting teams, entered the game shooting barely 42 percent, 22nd in the league. They hit nearly 46 percent in this one -- including 52 percent in the final quarter -- while committing a season-low six turnovers.

"We have good shooters," Suns guard Goran Dragic said. "We need them to space the floor and make the shots."

The Nuggets, who had their four-game win streak snapped, are in the midst of an unenviable opening schedule, with 17 of their first 23 on the road.

"Our schedule is crazy," coach George Karl said.

The Nuggets used their early-release fast-break game for 17 points in the first half; the Nuggets led 57-54 at the break. But the Suns limited them to four such points in the second half.

"We did a much better job of making them play in the halfcourt," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Dragic had an excellent game with 21 points, seven assists and just two turnovers. Michael Beasley added 16 points, while Marcin Gortat had 12 points, 11 boards and two blocks.

For the Nuggets, Andre Igoudala had 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Kenneth Faried hit 6-for-7 for 14 points and 11 boards. JaVale McGee came off the bench to hit 8-for-12 for 16 points.

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NBA CIRCLE - Denver Nuggets Vs Phoenix Suns Highlights 12 November 2012 www.nbacircle.com (via NEWNBACIRCLE)

Suns coach Alvin Gentry spoke later about the comfort of familiarity:

"Everybody is getting a little more familiar with each other ... The idea of just knowing the guy beside you a little better."

Game Time: 10:30 PM ET

Current Odds: Unavailable

All-Time Series: 26-25, Heat

Season Series: 1-0, Heat

Standings:

Miami Heat: 6-3, first in the Southeast Division, tied for third in the Eastern Conference, tied for sixth in the NBA. Last five: W-W-L-W-L. Current odds of making the postseason: 86.6%

Denver Nuggets: 4-4, third in the Northwest Division, tied for seventh in the Western Conference, tied for 14th in the NBA. Last five: W-W-W-W-L, Current odds of making the postseason: 54%