Another one.
The Miami Heat are more than that. They are hot.
They find a way to win with the bodies they have better yet the names of players who are looking to make a name for themselves in the NBA.
Miami extended its winning streak to 12 games with a 106-88 win on Wednesday night over the hard-luck Milwaukee Bucks, who lost young forward Jabari Parker in the third quarter to a sprained left knee. Parker will have an MRI on Thursday, general manager John Hammond said.
Hassan Whiteside, who is earning a little more than 22 million as part of his new deal last summer had 23 points and 16 rebounds, while James Johnson added 20 points off the bench for the Heat. Guard Dion Waiters didn’t play with an ankle injury.
Number seven missed number 11 however held down the fort. Goran Dragic had 13 of his 16 points in the first half, easily getting into the lane against Milwaukee’s soft interior defense.
Did I mention the Heat have a streak going on? Even Heat great Dwyane Wade has taken notice. Speaking to reporters after the Bulls defeated the Kings 112-107 earlier in the week, Wade, unprompted, gave a little nod of respect to his former team’s winning streak.
“We’ve been playing good basketball; not playing Miami basketball; they’ve won 11 straight, but we’re been playing good basketball.”
Wade has remained good friends with several of his former teammates on the Heat moreover travels back to the 3-0-5 when time allows.
“I’m not going to talk about the streak,” Spoelstra said. “It’s more about a group of players coming together to form an identity as a team and embrace each other, embrace a culture, embrace defending with a purpose.”
There is no signs of body tape or crutches however Waiters joined Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Josh McRoberts on the Miami injury report. The team plans to sign Marcus Georges-Hunt, a 6-foot-6 forward playing with Maine in the NBA Developmental League. “I think it’s necessary right now,” Spoelstra said. “We need some insurance, just in case.” A rookie out of Georgia Tech, Georges-Hunt averaged 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists with Maine.
Bucks coach Jason Kidd did not address reporters after the game. Following a wait of roughly 45 minutes, Hammond spoke to the media.
The beat goes on as the Bucks host the Los Angeles Lakers and the Heat take their win streak on their third stop of their four-game trip visiting the worst team in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets.
Photo/RomanGaray/WORLDWIDEWEST
