Miami faces Minnesota, aims for 5th straight victory

Minnesota Timberwolves (21-13, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (19-15, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Saturday, 5 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Miami comes into a matchup with Minnesota as winners of four consecutive games.

The Heat are 12-5 in home games. Miami is third in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 45.9 rebounds. Kel'el Ware paces the Heat with 10.6 boards.

The Timberwolves are 9-7 in road games. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.1.

The Heat are shooting 47.3% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 45.8% the Timberwolves allow to opponents. The Timberwolves average 118.8 points per game, 1.4 more than the 117.4 the Heat give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ware is averaging 12.4 points and 10.6 rebounds for the Heat. Norman Powell is averaging 36.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 5-5, averaging 117.5 points, 46.3 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 10.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points per game.

Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 116.7 points, 46.2 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.2 points.

INJURIES: Heat: Pelle Larsson: day to day (ankle), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe).

Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot).

___