Miami Heat Blog – Page 87 – NBA Blog

Miami Heat sign forward Jarvis Varnado to 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Jarvis Varnado to a 10-day contract.

Varnado, who was signed by Boston this season on December 14, appeared in five games with the Celtics totaling six points, three rebounds, one assist and a steal in 18 minutes of action while shooting 2-of-4 from the field before being waived on January 6. He previously played in eight games (all starts) earlier this season for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League and averaged 14.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.38 blocks and 30.4 minutes while shooting 57.5 percent from the field.

Varnado was originally a second-round draft choice (41st overall) by the Heat in the 2010 NBA Draft after concluding his collegiate career at Mississippi State as the NCAA’s all-time leader in blocks (564). He was signed earlier this season by Miami on September 7 and waived on October 26 after appearing in two games (one start) on the Heat’s 2012 Summer League team tallying four points, seven rebounds, one steal and a block in 30:07 minutes of action.

The Heat’s roster now stands at 14.

Paul George scores 29, Pacers beat Heat 87-77

Paul George had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers held Miami to a season-low point total in an 87-77 win over the Heat on Tuesday night.

George made four 3-pointers to get the best of his matchup with LeBron James. David West added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Lance Stephenson chipped in with 13 points for the Pacers (21-14), who have won 11 of their last 13 games.

Dwyane Wade scored 30 points and James had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Miami (23-10), which still has the best record in the Eastern Conference.

It was the first time the teams had met since Miami beat the Pacers in six games in the conference semifinals last year.

The Pacers outrebounded the Heat 55-36 to help make up for 36 percent shooting.

George had gone 8 for 29 in his previous two games, but he broke out of his slump by making 12 of 27 shots against Miami.

Miami entered the game leading the NBA in field goal percentage, while Indiana led the league in field goal percentage defense. The matchup resulted in the Heat scoring only 35 points in the second half, their lowest-scoring half of the season.

— Reported by Cliff Brunt of the Associated Press

Miami Heat waive Josh Harrellson

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have waived center Josh Harrellson.

Harrellson appeared in five games with the HEAT this season, averaging 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game.

He originally signed with Miami as a free agent on September 17, 2012.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 13.

Heat beat woeful Wizards by 28

LeBron James scored 24 points and the Miami Heat had a rebounding edge for a change Sunday to beat the woeful Washington Wizards 99-71.

The Heat, beaten on the boards by a total of 38 rebounds over the previous three games, this time enjoyed a 50-39 advantage. Udonis Haslem led them with 12 rebounds, and Chris Bosh had nine.

The game matched the teams with the best and worst records in the Eastern Conference, and in the late going it looked like it. Miami scored the game’s final 21 points and held Washington scoreless over the last 7:07.

James extended his streaks of scoring at least 20 points to 32 consecutive games this season, and 53 in a row including last year’s playoff run. He shot 9 for 17 and had seven assists.

The Heat were coming off only their third home loss of the season Friday against Chicago.

— Reported by Steven Wine of the Associated Press

Miami Heat waive guard Terrel Harris

The Miami Heat announced today that they have waived guard Terrel Harris.

Harris appeared in seven games with the Heat this season, averaging 1.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.1 minutes per game. Last season, he appeared in 22 games (one start) and averaged 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game.

He originally signed with Miami as a free agent on December 10, 2011 and was re-signed by the Heat on September 10, 2012.

The Heat’s roster now stands at 14.

The team is rebounding very badly this season. It’s possible they look to add a power forward or center to come off the bench and help hit the boards.

Strong rebounding helps Bulls beat Heat

Even when seated, the Chicago Bulls outrebounded the Miami Heat.

Following one missed shot, the ball rolled between forward Carlos Boozer’s legs as he fell on his backside, yet he still managed to scoop it up and feed a teammate for two more second-chance points for Chicago.

Dominating on the glass and the hardwood, the Bulls became only the third visiting team to win in Miami this season, beating the Heat 96-89 Friday night.

Chicago outrebounded Miami 48-28. The Bulls had 19 offensive rebounds to four for the Heat…

”It always feels good to beat the Heat,” said center Joakim Noah, who had 12 rebounds…

The Heat, who are last in the NBA in rebounds, had won four games this season when outrebounded by 15 or more. But this time the disparity beat them…

James scored 30 points, extending his streaks of scoring at least 20 points to 31 consecutive games this season, and 52 games in a row overall when including last year’s playoff run. He has scored at least 25 in eight consecutive games.

But he had just six rebounds, which led the Heat. Boozer had 12 rebounds for Chicago, and Taj Gibson added nine in 17 minutes…

Boozer scored 27 points after totaling a season-high 31 Wednesday at Orlando. Noah, back after missing one game with flu-like symptoms, had 13 points.

— Reported by Steven Wine of the Associated Press

Rebounds a struggle for Heat, despite hot start

Most wins in the Eastern Conference, fewest rebounds in the NBA.

It might not sound like a winning formula, but it’s working for Miami.

The Heat (22-8) are on pace for the second-worst rebounding season in franchise history, better than only the 2007-08 campaign where Miami won just 15 games in what was Pat Riley’s final season on the sideline as coach. And even though it was Riley who once said ”no rebounds, no rings,” the Heat are clearly not the type of team that will dominate on the backboards.

Only reigning MVP LeBron James is currently ranked among the NBA’s top 30 rebounders in terms of average per game, and the Heat have a lineup that’s outsized in nearly every game – sometimes by a significant amount.

”Rebounding is not something that you work on,” James said. ”It’s a knack.”

Countered Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: ”It’s interesting how sometimes we have the knack.”

What they’re doing is simply defying logic on some nights. The Heat have been outrebounded by margins this season of 15, 17, 19 and 29 – and somehow, they went 4-0 in those games.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

LeBron misses practice due to bruised knee

LeBron James sat out of Thursday’s practice to receive extensive treatment for his bruised right knee but hopes to play in Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls.

It wasn’t initially clear whether James aggravated the slight knee injury during the Heat’s 119-109 overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. But James has dealt with soreness in both knees for much of the season.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t reveal James’ latest injury during his session with reporters immediately after Thursday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. But during the final stages of practice that were open to the media, James was seen riding a stationary bike.

— Reported by Michael Wallace of ESPN.com

LeBron scores 32, Heat beat Mavs in OT

Once the Miami Heat found a way to rally in the final moments of regulation, they made overtime look easy.

LeBron James scored 32 points and finished one assist shy of a triple-double, Dwyane Wade scored 27 and the Heat pulled off both early and late before beating the Dallas Mavericks 119-109 in overtime Wednesday night.

Down 100-94 with 3:02 remaining in regulation, the Heat closed the game on a 25-9 run – and sent Dallas to its sixth loss in as many overtime games this season.

”We have ultimate confidence in our team, our talent level, our execution,” said Chris Bosh, who scored 17 points for Miami. ”And we believe in each other. To know we can be down by six with 3 minutes left and still have the confidence to overcome everything and get the job done, it works out great.”

Ray Allen added 15 for Miami, which extended its Eastern Conference-leading record to 22-8 despite trailing by 12 in the opening minutes. James had 12 rebounds and nine assists for the Heat, who scored the first seven points of overtime.

O.J. Mayo scored 30 and Dirk Nowitzki – still working his way back from knee surgery – added 19 in 29 minutes for the Mavericks…

Vince Carter had 15 points, Chris Kaman scored 14 and Darren Collison finished with 11 for Dallas.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

LeBron leads Heat over Magic in OT

LeBron James had 36 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Chris Bosh scored 22 points to help the Miami Heat slip past the Orlando Magic 112-110 in overtime Monday.

James scored eight points in overtime, including two free throws that clinched it with 1.5 seconds left. Dwayne Wade, who had 21 points, had a steal and dunk with 6.2 seconds to go to give Miami a four-point lead.

Arron Afflalo scored 28 points for the Magic and J.J. Redick added 23, but he committed the turnover that led to Wade’s decisive dunk. Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 29 rebounds as Orlando lost its sixth straight.

— Reported by the Associated Press