Heat Could Get Bosh Back For Monday Matchup Against Orlando
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – The Miami Heat have had a rough go of it lately but could be getting one of their most productive players back in the lineup on Monday.
The Orlando Magic didn't have an answer for Chris Bosh in a home loss to the Heat last month. They might have to find a way to slow him if they hope to end their lengthy skid in the series.
After participating in practice Sunday, Bosh appears to be on target to make his much-anticipated return Monday night when the Heat go for their 11th straight victory over the visiting Magic.
Miami (14-17) hasn't been able to get going during a season-high seven-game homestand while Bosh has been out with a calf injury. The Heat lost for the fifth time in eight games without the All-Star forward in Saturday's 103-95 defeat to Memphis.
Dwyane Wade had a team-high 25 points, leaving him with a 29.8 per game average over his last five.
Wade, though, hasn't had much help lately, as the Heat are averaging 92.9 points since Bosh went down after scoring 95.0 during an 11-12 start. They shot 51.4 percent from the field Saturday, but sent the Grizzlies to the line 37 times - almost 13 more than their average.
"We're seeing improvement," said coach Erik Spoelstra, whose club has dropped four of six on the homestand. "We're not over the hump by any stretch and we have to keep on working."
Miami would receive a boost if Bosh is able to return in the last of the home stay against the Magic (12-21). Bosh, averaging 21.6 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds, will be a game-time decision after practicing Sunday.
"He was able to go through all of it," Spoelstra said through the team's official twitter account. "All we can do is wait and re-evaluate how his body feels (Monday)."
With Wade sidelined, Bosh scored 32 and made 4 of 6 from 3-point range in a 99-92 victory at Orlando on Nov. 22. The Heat finished with a 52.1 field-goal percentage en route to their 10th straight win over the intrastate rivals.
Bosh has averaged 23.0 points while shooting 73.0 percent - including 6 for 9 from 3-point range - in his last three meetings.
Orlando's Nikola Vucevic could be tasked with containing him as the Magic look to beat the Heat for the first time since March 13, 2012. He struggled defensively in the first matchup, but finished with a career-high 33 points and 17 rebounds.
Vucevic, who averages 18.1 points and a team-best 11.6 boards, scored 22 and pulled down 11 rebounds Saturday to key Orlando's second win in three games, 102-94 at Charlotte.
"I'm not really used to guarding players like (Bosh)," Vucevic said after the first meeting. "Usually I'm around the paint, trying to help, but with him you can't do that. With Bosh, you have to be really close, and if you help he gets those open shots."
The Magic are scoring 97.0 per game while shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range over their last three after they had averaged 89.0 with a 35.4 3-point percentage during a four-game losing streak.
Tobias Harris, averaging a team-best 18.6 points per game, missed last month's loss with a right calf strain.
Miami's Danny Granger is starting to show signs of returning to his pre-injury form, finishing with a season-high 18 points against the Grizzlies. Starting forward Luol Deng has totaled 41 points on 17-of-26 shooting in his last two games.
The Heat will go into the new year with a losing record for the first time since 2008.
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