Game #13: San Antonio Spurs (9-4) vs. Miami Heat (8-4)

The Miami Heat began the season on a solid note, winning 8 of their first 9 games and looking pretty good in the process. However, since then they have dropped three straight while wrapping up a west coast road trip and now return home with a very tough schedule ahead. Their next three games are all against teams in 1st place in their respective divisions, starting tonight when the San Antonio Spurs come to town.

Miami may have to begin the tough stretch without Dwyane Wade, as his availability is uncertain due to an ankle injury sustained in Denver on Saturday night. That injury comes after he already sat out 3 games due to a bruised left foot. Wade sat out the teams practice on Sunday and while Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is being very secretive about his top guards status, my guess would be that D-Wade is going to rest for a few days and give his injuries some time to heal.

Apparently I'm not the only person who thinks that way, as Heat forward Chris Bosh also expressed his concern for Wade's health and thoughts that he should take some time off to heal. Said Bosh:

"He needs to get healthy. That's the most important thing. He's been pushing it. He's been giving us everything he has. And unfortunately in the last game, he turned his ankle. But sometimes things happen. He probably needed to sit down and rest in the first place. He needs to just chill out right now, get better and we'll hold it down until he can come back."

GAME NOTES

• Miami comes in on a 3-game losing streak while the Spurs enter winners of 3 straight.
• The Heat are 3-1 at home. San Antonio is 0-4 on the road.
• Miami has lost 4 of their last 5 against the Spurs, but won their previous meeting at the AAA last season...by 30 points.
• This is the first game of a 5-game homestand for the Heat.
• Eddy Curry (hip) is out for Miami. Mike Miller (hernia) is questionable.
• For the Spurs, Manu Ginobili (hand) and T.J. Ford (hamstring) are out. Gary Neal (quad) and Malcolm Thomas (stomach) are questionable and Matt Bonner (knee) is probable.

Tipoff from the AAA is set for 7:30. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV as well as locally on Sun Sports. Lets go Heat!