Game #16: Milwaukee Bucks (5-9) vs. Miami Heat (11-4)

Since returning to South Florida after a very tough road trip, the Miami Heat have reeled off three consecutive victories, all against 1^st place teams. The San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers all came to Miami leading their respective divisions, but left town with nothing more then another notch in the loss column. Considering the way that the Heat ended their road trip, these wins couldn't have come at a better time.

Now the Heat have to re-focus and make sure not to overlook their next opponent just because they aren't one of the leagues top teams. The Milwaukee Bucks come to town one of the worst road teams in the NBA, having lost 8 of their 9 games away from the Bradley Center. The game certainly has the makings of a ‘trap game' for Miami, but they have been looking at this week as an opportunity for them to really get ahead, and so far they have done just that with 3 straight wins.

Miami will have to contain the Bucks young budding superstar Brandon Jennings. The 3^rd year pro has had his two best games of the season in Milwaukee's last two games, putting up 30 points in a loss to Denver and then topping that with 36 points in a win at New York. We'll see if the Heat can slow him down, though traditionally they seem to have more trouble with point guards then other positions.

GAME NOTES

• The Heat are 6-1 at home. Milwaukee is just 1-8 on the road.
• That one road win came in their last game, a 100-86 win in New York against the Knicks.
• This is the first meeting of the year between Miami and the Bucks. They will play two more games this season, both in Milwaukee.
• This game will end the 5^th back-to-back set for the Heat this season. So far they are 2-2 in the 2^nd game of back-to-back's.
• The Bucks have won 3 of their last 4 visits to the American Airlines Arena.
• Dwyane Wade (ankle) is not expected to play for the Heat.
• As for Milwaukee, forward Darrington Hobson is out, having been designated for a D-League assignment to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Tipoff from the AAA is set for 6pm. The game will be broadcast locally on Sun Sports. For the second night in a row, the Heat will be wearing their white Miami Floridians ‘Hardwood Classic' throwbacks. The game will also feature special ‘retro' pregame video introductions for the players.