MIAMI (Sporting Alert) — The Miami Heat and Houston Rockets, two of the NBA early undefeated teams, will take on each other here at AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday night.
Miami (3-0), is the only unbeaten team left in the East, while Houston (4-0) is one of three teams with 100-percent record on the new term.
The Heat, in its post-LeBron James campaign, have been flourishing well so far, with forward Chris Bosh being in good scoring touch – averaging 25.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game..
The NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week has been settling well into his new post as the go-to man for scoring and he is enjoying his new role.
“It’s just time,” Bosh said. “I knew I couldn’t settle into that same position I’ve been in the past four years, floating outside and shooting a couple of jumpers.
“I know I had to switch it up a little.”
Despite the good start though, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra isn’t getting too carried away, as he knows things can quickly change.
“We’re three games into this so it could quickly go the other way if guys start to feel comfortable and try to start to do it on their own,” Spoelstra said. “And that’s not the makeup of this group.
“That’s not at all a referendum on our personnel, it’s the power of working together that will make us more successful.
“The guys see it. They see how our team will have to play to be successful.”
The Houston Rockets in the meantime, are 4-0 to start the season, but more impressively, they will carry an undefeated 3-0 road record to the AmericanAirlines Arena.
James Harden, who poured in 35 points and nine rebounds in the 104-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, is averaging 27.8 points per game for the Rockets, who are off to their best start since the 1996-97 season when they opened with a 6-0 record.
Houston is averaging 105 points per game and giving up 91.5 to their opponents.
Still, coach Kevin McHale believes his team can do better.
“We still have stuff to work on,” McHale said. “We just have to keep on going out there and understanding that we have a lot of work to do.
“We’re not a finished product by any stretch of the imagination.”
Tuesday night’s game is expected to be an exciting contest and the Rockets are confident they can extend their winning run in preparation for their other upcoming clash with the defending champions, San Antonio Spurs.
Also on Tuesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder will continue life without influential players Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeremy Lamb when they visit the Toronto Raptors, hope to shake off Monday night’s 116-85 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Phoenix Suns, while LeBron James and Cleveland travel to take on Portland.
Tuesday, November 4
MATCHUP TIME (ET) TV CHANNELS
Milwaukee at Indiana 7:00 PM FSWI FSMW
Houston at Miami 7:30 PM CSN Houston SUN NBATV
Washington at New York 7:30 PM CNSW MSG
Oklahoma City at Toronto 7:30 PM FSOK TSN2
Orlando at Chicago 8:00 PM FSFL CSNC
Charlotte at New Orleans 8:00 PM TSOH FSN
Cleveland at Portland 10:00 PM FSOH CSNN NBATV
Phoenix at LA Lakers 10:30 PM FSAZ TWC SN
