The Nets have won four of their last five road games, vs. the Bulls, Knicks, Mavericks and Bobcats. The Heat have lost two straight. Is that combination a reason for hope? Probably not, especially with Chris Bosh returning after the funeral of his grandmother and Brook Lopez out with his ankle woes.

Still, the Nets did win two of those four games without much of a contribution from Lopez. The problem for the Nets is that the Heat really want to end their losing streak, which they lost to the Jazz and Lakers. "We weren’t (as) efficient as we normally are. We know we’re much better than the last two games and we’ll move on."said Erik Spoelstra, on the Heat having lost their last two, failing to score 100 points in either loss. The Heat roster is completely healthy.

For the Nets, of course, the story will be how well can Deron Williams reprise his career game against the Bobcats. Charlotte decided not to double team him. It's unlikely the Heat will do the same. Instead, expect blanket coverage by the Heat's best defenders.

• New Jersey Nets Game Notes - New Jersey Nets
  
• Miami Heat Game Notes - Miami Heat
• Getting Inside - New Jersey Nets - Sports Xchange
• Getting Inside - Miami Heat - Sports Xchange
• Nets-Heat Preview - Jeff Mezydlo - Stats LLC
• Nets' Brook Lopez out at least three weeks with sprained ankle - Andy Vasquez - The Record
• Nets' Brook Lopez out again, to miss three weeks with ankle sprain - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
  
• Dwight Howard trade with Orlando Magic may still be in play - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
• Route 66: Bulls, Thunder giving no ground to Heat - Ira Winderman - South Florida Sun-Sentinel