Atlanta Hawks Visit Miami Heat: Game 39 Preview

The Miami Heat welcome the Atlanta Hawks to the American Airlines Arena in South Florida tonight. After a short two game road losing streak, the Heat returned home last night to defeat the New Jersey Nets, 108-78 in the first game of a three game homestand. They finish up against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. The Heat is 16-2 at home, while the Hawks are 11-9 on the road.

The Hawks are playing in the second game of a six game roadtrip. They defeated the Indiana Pacers, 101-96 last night, and go on to face the Detroit Pistons, the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers.

This is the last of four matchups between the Southeast Division rivals this season. The two haven't faced each other since a 107-87 Heat victory over the Hawks in Atlanta on February 12th. LeBron James led the Heat with 23 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Dwyane Wade pitched in with 21, while Chris Bosh added 14 with 16 rebounds. Willis Green led the Hawks with 17, and Joe Johnson scored 12 in support. They were the only Atlanta players in double figures. James talked after the game about his rebounding.

"We couldn't have scripted a better start [to the three-games-in-three-days run]. We played Miami Heat basketball . . . we were able to get stops defensively, and transition translates into offense . . . I wanted to rebound tonight because it enables me to push the tempo."

Miami Heat vs Atlanta Hawks Highlights HD [2.12.2012] (via CakesBerry)

The Heat defeated the New Jersey Nets last night, 108-78. LeBron James topped Miami with 21 points on nine-of-11 shooting along with nine rebounds and six assists. Chris Bosh scored 20 in his return to action after having missed the past three to deal with a family emergency. The Nets were paced by Deron Williams, who scored 16 with four assists. Bosh spoke about his return afterwards,

"That's the thing I love about this game. Even if it's just for a couple hours, you get to just go out there and live your dream and be who you're meant to be, do what you were put on this Earth to do. It's always good to just have that just to get away just for a little bit. I've been looking forward to it for a while. I wanted to get back out there in the worst way."

3.6.2012 Miami Heat Vs New Jersey Nets Full Game Highlights HD (via nbahighlights9999)

Josh Smith led Atlanta with 27 points and nine rebounds in last night's 101-96 road victory over the Indiana Pacers. Zaza Pachulia scored 12 with 10 rebounds, while Jannero Pargo pitched in 16. David West paced Indiana with 24, while Danny Granger added 19 with eight rebounds in defeat. Smith didn't score for the last 16 minutes of the game, but his teammates picked up the slack,

It's great when your teammates lift you up. That really helped in the third and fourth quarter. We've just been playing tremendously and not been worried about who has been in and out of the lineup. Guys really have been stepping up and playing outstanding. We have to keep sharing the basketball and keep playing as well on the defensive end."

Atlanta Hawks Vs Indiana Pacers Highlights (6th March 2012) (via NBAorbit)

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Standings:

Miami Heat: 29-9, first Southeast Division, second Eastern Conference, third in the NBA, on pace for 50-16, Last five: W-W-L-L-W

Atlanta Hawks: 23-15, third Southeast Division, sixth Eastern Conference, tied for ninth in the NBA, on pace for 40-26, Last five, W-L-W-W-W