When: 5:30 p.m. Monday
Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami
TV, radio: ALT, 950 AM
Spotlight on Goran Dragic: The veteran point guard was a first-time all-star this season, leading the Heat in scoring (17.6 points per game) and assists (4.8 per game) while adding four rebounds per contest. He has stepped into a “closer” role, hitting a floater with 15.2 seconds to play that turned out to be the game-winner against the Lakers on Friday. According to The Miami Herald, it was the first time in 236 games with the Heat that Dragic delivered the decisive points with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation or overtime.
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: Leading scorer has been ruled out of Monday’s game because of a right knee sprain/strain suffered in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s win over Detroit. The Nuggets are 2-3 without Harris for health or personal reasons this season, including Saturday’s stunning loss at Memphis that served as a major blow to their playoff chances. … The Nuggets are aiming to snap a three-game road losing streak and are 11-22 away from home, the worst mark among Western Conference playoff contenders. … Denver’s 94 points in the Memphis game halted a 20-game streak of scoring 100 points or more. … has averaged 22 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists over his past six games. He leads NBA centers in assists at six per game.
Heat: The team is firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, entering Sunday at 6.5 games ahead of ninth-place Detroit and a half game back of seventh-place Milwaukee. … Hassan Whiteside, who is averaging 14.3 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, missed the Heat’s past two games because of a hip injury. … Dwyane Wade, who is averaging 13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 12 games since his return to Miami, missed Friday’s win in Los Angeles because of a strained hamstring. … The Heat entered Sunday ranked 20th in the NBA in offensive efficiency (104.2 points per 100 possessions) and ninth in defensive efficiency (104.4 points allowed per 100 possessions).
