On Tuesday night, the red-hot Portland Trail Blazers will host the reeling Miami Heat in Dwyane Wade’s last game against them.
Unless the Heat and Trail Blazers reach the NBA Finals, this will be Dwyane Wade‘s last game in Portland. Wade is in the 16th and final season of his storied career; he announced his decision to retire in a video posted on his YouTube channel on September 16.
Wade is averaging 13.8 points, a team-best 4.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 25.4 minutes over 41 games off the bench and was recently invited to his final All-Star Game but the three-time NBA champion could miss his final NBA Playoffs. The Heat have lost their last three games, all at home and they’re now 24-27, good enough for eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just two games over the Pistons.
The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, have won six of their last seven games, including a 132-105 beating of the Jazz last Wednesday and they will be well-rested. However, they can’t take the Heat lightly. Miami won the first meeting between these two teams, 120-111 at home on October 27 behind 28 points from Goran Dragic, who outscored Portland 8-7 by himself in the final 3:52. Kelly Olynyk and Dwyane Wade added 19 points apiece and the Heat outrebounded the Trail Blazers 56-42.
In today's Throwback Thursday presented by @Hulu, we go back to January 18, 2008, where Brandon Roy & the Blazers fought back against Dwyane Wade & @MiamiHeat, with Roy scoring 16 of his 24 points in the 4th.
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 31, 2019
D. Wade makes his final visit to @ModaCenter on Tuesday. #TBT pic.twitter.com/GAq5Z8oynz
Dragic is still out with right knee soreness but Wade will be ready to go and he’s always played well against the Trail Blazers, averaging 25.1 points, 5.9 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 27 games (25 starts). Dwyane Wade might be just a role player at this stage of his career but every road game is special for him Playing in Portland won’t be just another stop of his farewell tour, he will make sure he gives his all for a Heat team that will be desperate for a win, which makes them even more dangerous.
One of the keys to this game will be the battle of the boards. The Heat grabbed 16 offensive rebounds in the first meeting against eight by the Trail Blazers and limiting second chances can make a difference in the end.
Damian Lillard finished with 42 points in that visit to Miami but other than CJ McCollum (19 points) and Zach Collins (13 points) the rest of the team was very quiet, especially Jusuf Nurkic, who had just five points on 2 of 7 shooting. Nurkic has to get more involved on offense and his matchup with Hassan Whiteside will be very important.