Brooklyn Nets (39-34, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (40-34, sixth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn comes into the matchup with Miami as losers of five in a row.
The Heat are 21-24 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami is second in the Eastern Conference in team defense, giving up just 109.7 points while holding opponents to 48.1% shooting.
The Nets have gone 26-20 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn has an 18-15 record in games decided by at least 10 points.
The two teams square off for the third time this season. The Nets defeated the Heat 116-105 in their last meeting on Feb. 16. Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 45 points, and Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 24 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Adebayo is scoring 21.0 points per game with 9.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Heat. Jimmy Butler is averaging 27.2 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 58.6% over the past 10 games for Miami.
Bridges is scoring 19.3 points per game with 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Nets. Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 17.7 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 44.0% over the last 10 games for Brooklyn.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 7-3, averaging 117.5 points, 38.1 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.9 points per game.
Nets: 4-6, averaging 110.7 points, 42.2 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.4 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Cody Zeller: out (nose).
Nets: Ben Simmons: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
