Jan. 13--After starting its season-long, seven-game trip 1-2, the Heat faces a must-win of sorts against Minnesota on Tuesday night.
A few weeks ago, the Timberwolves probably looked like an appealing foe. But Minnesota (11-25) has won five in a row, its longest winning streak since December 2005. On this trip, the Heat (19-17) lost to Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers, and Wednesday plays in Milwaukee before ending with back-to-back games against Houston and Oklahoma City. "We went to the Clippers, who weren't playing that well and we lost that game, we lost in Memphis," Heat forward Udonis Haslem said. "We know we can get beat by anybody."
Tuesday's challenge: Contain Minnesota center Al Jefferson.
"[He's] a big monster in the middle," Heat forward Shawn Marion said. "I'm pretty sure we're going to have to send double-teams at him."
Jefferson is averaging a team-high 22.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Orlando's Dwight Howard and San Antonio's Tim Duncan are the only other players in the league averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
PRACTICE OPTIONAL
After arriving at its hotel around 6 a.m. central time Monday from Los Angeles, the Heat's practice was optional.
The nine players who participated in Monday's optional workout at Target Center were: Marion, Haslem, Marcus Banks, Yakhouba Diawara, James Jones, Chris Quinn, Jamaal Magloire, Joel Anthony and Mark Blount. Rookies Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, and second-year guard Daequan Cook lifted weights.
TUESDAY: Heat AT Timberwolves
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis.
TV/radio: Sun Sports; WINZ (940 AM), WQBA (1140 AM, Spanish).
The series: Heat leads 20-17.
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