Sacramento Kings Visit Miami Heat: Game 33 Preview

Tonight, the Miami Heat host the Sacramento Kings at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. This is the only time the two teams will meet this season.

Miami has won six straight games, and is coming off a 90-78 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. They finish up their three game homestand on Thursday against the New York Knicks.

Sacramento comes into town in the fifth game of a six game road trip, and have lost five straight games overall. They dropped a Valentine's Day matchup to the Chicago Bulls, 121-115 before losing to the New York Knicks, 100-85, the Detroit Pistons, 114-108, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, 93-92 on Sunday.

Miami is 13-2 at home, Sacramento is 3-16 on the road.

The teams last faced each other on February 22nd of last year in Miami. The Heat outscored the Kings, 35-16 in the first quarter and never looked back, finishing with a 117-97 victory. LeBron James led Miami with 31 points and eight rebounds. Dwyane Wade added 23 with eight rebounds and seven assists, and Chris Bosh pitched in 22 with nine rebounds.

Samuel Dalembert led four Kings in double digits with 18 points along with 13 rebounds. Chris Bosh spoke afterwards about a possible letdown coming off the All-Star break,

"I don't think we have the type of guys that would let this be a trap game because we're focused on our goals. We know what we have to get better at ... Against a team like this, we respect them. This is the NBA, you can get beat any night. So we had to come out with the necessary energy and the necessary focus to put them away and get them down early and keep them there."

Sacramento vs Miami NBA Highlights 02/22/11 (via bballfansite)

The Heat is coming off a 90-78 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Dwyane Wade led Miami with 27 points along with six rebounds and three blocked shots. LeBron James narrowly missed a triple double, scoring 25 points with 11 boards and eight assists.

J.J. Redick paced the Magic with 17 points, and Dwight Howard scored 12 points along with 15 rebounds in the losing effort. After dropping their prior game against Orlando, 102-89, the Heat were better prepared for this one, according to Erik Spoelstra,

"Our guys were very committed and much more disciplined this game. We watched the film and all of us were so disappointed the last time we played them ... We had so many breakdowns. We didn't really give ourselves a chance. It's a good to see us coming and playing more disciplined to our strengths."

2.19.2012 Miami Heat Vs Orlando Magic NBA Highlights HD (via nbahighlights9999)

The Kings are coming off a 93-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. After taking a four point lead after the first quarter, The Kings let the Cavs dictate the game, and were outscored, 48-37 through the second and third periods before a late charge came up just short. Kyrie Irving led the Cavs with 23 points, Omar Casspi had 12 rebounds, and Tristan Thompson posted a double double, scoring 15 with 12 boards in the win.

For the Kings, Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points with 11 assists in the loss. Marcus Thornton added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Thomas talked about the Kings fifth straight loss,

"A lot of our losses have been tough, but this is one of the toughest. We know we had it. To lose this way is heartbreaking. That's the thing we have to work on, (making) no turnovers in the last two minutes, no stupid fouls."

2.19.2012 Cleveland Cavaliers Vs Sacramento Kings NBA Highlights HD (via nbahighlights9999)

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Standings

Miami: 25-7, first in the Southeast Division, first in the Eastern Conference, first in the NBA, on pace for 52-14. Last five: W-W-W-W-W

Sacramento: 10-21, fifth in the Pacific Division, 14th in the Western Conference, 25th in the NBA, on pace for 21-45. Last five: L-L-L-L-L

Season series: 0-0

All-time series: Miami, 30-16

GameTime: 7:30 ET