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The Sports Network
(Sports Network) - Miami will shoot for its seventh straight win tonight when
the club welcomes the Sacramento Kings to the shores of Biscayne Bay.
The star-studded Heat have traditionally dominated the Kings in South Beach,
winning nine straight in the series and 20 of 22 overall. In fact, the last
Sacramento win in Miami was a 95-88 victory on Dec. 9, 2001. The last time the
Kings defeated the Heat in any fashion was on March 2, 2008 (120-109) at ARCO
Arena.
Miami has won six straight and 14 of 15 over the Kings and leads the all-time
series between the teams with a 30-16 advantage.
The Heat have been rolling lately and opened up a three-game homestand by
topping Southeast Division rival Orlando, 90-78, on Sunday. LeBron James
scored 25 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out eight assists.
Dwyane Wade netted a game-high 27 points and blocked three shots, while Chris
Bosh dropped eights points and grabbed nine boards for the Heat, who have won
a season-high six in a row and nine of 10 overall.
Miami shot just 47.5 percent from the field, but held Orlando to a 36.5
percent mark and forced 15 turnovers.
"Our activity level was very good and throughout the game it was very
consistent," said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. "Offensively, we were able
to play poised, even when they were hitting their threes we were able to
execute on offense and get the type of shots we wanted."
Miami is a gaudy 13-2 in south Florida this season and will finish its short
residency against New York and Jeremy Lin on Thursday.
The Kings, meanwhile, are in the midst of a disastrous six-game road trip.
Sacramento is 0-4 on the trek after Sunday's 93-92 heartbreaker in Cleveland
and has lost five in a row and six of a seven overall. Kyrie Irving buried a
pair of free throws with just four-tenths of a second to play in that one to
win it for the Cavs.
Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton each had double-doubles for the Kings, with
Thomas posting 23 points and 11 assists and Thornton adding 21 points and 10
rebounds for the Kings, who are now just 3-16 on the road this season.
"We did as much as we could, things just didn't go our way tonight," Kings
head coach Keith Smart said.
Sacramento will finish its trip in the nation's capital against the Wizards on
Wednesday.
The Sports Network