The team with the best record in the Eastern Conference is set to face the squad with the top record in the Western Conference on Wednesday when the Miami Heat play host to the Phoenix Suns.
Miami, which has won 12 of its past 14 contests, is 22 games over .500 for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
The Heat, who are 23-7 at home, are operating at virtually full power now that six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry and two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo have returned to the backcourt.
Lowry, who leads the team in assists (7.8 per game), had missed four games due to personal reasons before returning Monday in Miami’s 123-106 win over the visiting Houston Rockets.
Despite going scoreless in 32 minutes, Lowry is the quarterback who runs Miami’s offense, and he is one of the team’s primary leaders along with Jimmy Butler.
Oladipo also returned on Monday, playing for the first time since April 8, 2021.
After spending the past three years slowed by two quadriceps tendon surgeries, Oladipo appears fully healthy. He amassed 11 points and four assists in 15 minutes off the bench on Monday, giving Miami yet another weapon.
“At the end of the day, I’m a winner,” Oladipo said, “and this team is a winner.”
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Oladipo’s return was “uplifting” to his team, which already features standouts such as Butler, Lowry, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
Butler leads the Heat in scoring (21.4 points per game) and steals (1.8 per game), and no player on the squad gets to the foul line more than him.
Adebayo leads Miami in rebounds (10.3 per game, on pace to be a career high), and he averages 18.8 points.
Herro, a third-year pro at age 22, is having his best season yet, averaging 20.8 points. He is among the favorites to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
Meanwhile, the Suns are a league-best 24-6 on the road, with the latest away win coming Tuesday, 102-99 over the Orlando Magic.
Orlando had a chance to tie the score late, but the Suns’ Mikal Bridges blocked Franz Wagner’s 3-point try with 4.2 seconds left.
“His arms are so doggone long,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said of Bridges.
Deandre Ayton led the Suns with 21 points and a game-high 19 rebounds.
“I needed one of those games,” Ayton said. “I hadn’t been doing a good job of closing out possessions correctly.”
Since Jan. 1, the Suns are 25-5, though they dropped their first matchup of the season with Miami on Jan. 8 in Phoenix, 123-100. Miami accomplished that despite being without Butler and Adebayo, as Herro scored 33 points.
The Suns are likely to be without Devin Booker (COVID protocol) and Cameron Johnson (right quad contusion) for the Wednesday rematch. Booker has missed four straight games while Johnson has missed two in a row.
As for longer-term injuries, Phoenix is still without star point guard Chris Paul (thumb), Frank Kaminsky III (knee) and Dario Saric (knee).
The Suns are hoping Paul returns in early to mid-April. They are 4-3 since he got hurt.
–Field Level Media
