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News » Heat-Cavaliers Preview 2009-03-07


Heat-Cavaliers Preview 2009-03-07


Heat-Cavaliers Preview 2009-03-07
After an amazing showdown earlier this week, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James didn't have to wait long for a rematch.

Wade and the Miami Heat try to hand James and the Cleveland Cavaliers just their second loss at Quicken Loans Arena this season on Saturday in the final regular season meeting between two of the league's top scorers.

Cleveland (48-13) has won two of three against the Heat (33-28) this season, with all three games decided by fewer than 10 points. Monday's meeting in Miami was the most competitive. Wade had 41 points, but James scored 42 as the Cavs rallied from a 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 107-100.

"We don't want each other to have bragging rights," said James, who is averaging 37.7 points against the Heat this season. "We definitely go at it when we play each other."

Wade, the NBA's leading scorer at 29.5 points per game, is eager for the rematch. He's averaging 30.3 points against Cleveland this season, and has reached the 40-point plateau in three of Miami's last four games and four of the last seven.

"I enjoyed the battle that we had," Wade said Friday night after scoring 42 points in his team's 108-102 win in Toronto. "You all saw it on ESPN, right? It was a good show."

Wade, who was 17-for-23 from the floor Friday, is averaging 36.4 points since the All-Star break.

"Right now I'm just in a groove and when my jump shot is going like it is, I get more confident," he said. "Hopefully I can keep it up."

Keeping it up Saturday night could prove a daunting task.

The Cavaliers are 27-1 at home this season, with the only loss coming against the league-leading Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 8. Since then, they've won four straight by an average of 17.8 points at Quicken Loans Arena, where they're allowing an average of just 88.2 points.

Cleveland has also won nine of 11 overall, but lost 105-94 loss at Boston on Friday. James struggled, shooting 5 of 15 and finishing with 21 points. He spent the final minutes on the bench with the Cavs unable to cut into the double-digit deficit.

The Celtics moved within percentage points of Cleveland for the top spot in the East and home-court advantage in the playoffs. The home team has won all three meetings in the season series.

"Both teams know it takes on a different meaning because we may face each other late in the season," James said. "At one point, somebody's going to have to get a win on the other's home court."

Cleveland has lost consecutive games only once this season, falling at home to the Lakers and at Indiana on Feb. 8 and 10. The Cavs have won eight of their last 10 home games against the Heat, including a 93-86 victory Dec. 28, when James' 33 points led the way.


Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: March 7, 2009

 

 
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