Heat Make Quick Stop At Home To Face Bucks
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/SportsDirect) – The Miami Heat are hoping a quick stop at home will get them back on track.
The Milwaukee Bucks swept the four-game series with Miami last season and look to continue the success when they visit the Heat on Tuesday.
Milwaukee won the matchups by an average of 9.8 points and Tuesday's contest is the first of three 2015-16 meetings.
Miami is home for one game before embarking on a five-game road trip - and the Heat just finished a six-game excursion on Sunday by being drubbed 99-74 by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"We knew this road trip was going to be tough," guard Dwyane Wade told reporters after the end of a trip that also included games against the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers. "We played three of the top four Western Conference teams. I'm not worried about it."
Milwaukee has won back-to-back games and six of its last 10 as it attempts to get into the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Bucks are averaging 105 points over their past four contests to raise the season mark to 98.3.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Sun (Miami)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (18-25): Guard Khris Middleton is enjoying a breakout campaign and has scored 20 or more points in six of the past seven games, averaging 23.4 during the stretch.
The fourth-year pro out of Texas A&M was only a second-round draft pick coming out of college - by the Detroit Pistons - but has continued to elevate his game and is averaging a career-best 17.5 points this season.
"I've been in a rhythm," Middleton told reporters. "Coaches and the guys are letting me play with the ball in my hands more, and allow me to make plays for them. They trust me to try to make the right play for the team."
ABOUT THE HEAT (23-18): Miami will offer a shorthanded roster against the Bucks after swingman Gerald Green (knee) left the Oklahoma City loss and is expected to join point guards Goran Dragic (calf) and Beno Udrih (neck) on the sideline.
Dragic will sit out for the fourth straight game while shooting guard Dwyane Wade (shoulder) will attempt to tough it out and play through his ailment for the second straight game as the Heat try to endure the stretch.
"There's nothing we can do," power forward Chris Bosh told reporters. "We have to play the cards we have and really figure out a way to hold the fort until we get healthy again. We can find a way to get wins."
BUZZER BEATERS
- Milwaukee limited Miami to 89.8 points per game in last season's four meetings.
- Heat SF Luol Deng is 8-of-25 shooting over the past three contests.
- Bucks SG O.J. Mayo (hamstring) will miss his third straight game.
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