Nets vs. Heat Preview: Brooklyn meets defending champs

The Brooklyn Nets will look for a different outcome against the Miami Heat on Saturday night in a rematch of a blowout loss earlier in the season. The defending champions drubbed Brooklyn by 30 points in their first meeting on Nov. 7, but the Nets are a more confident team this time around.

Since suffering the loss to Miami, Brooklyn has won 10 of its last 12 contests, including two stretches of five-straight wins. The current streak has seen victories against contenders in the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

Miami, however, has been doing just fine as well, holding the top spot in the Eastern Conference with an 11-3 record. The Heat are also on a five-game winning streak of their own after topping the reserves of the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

The contest between the Nets and Heat pits the second-best defensive team and second-best offensive team, in terms of points per game, against each other. Brooklyn is allowing just 90.4 points per game, while the Heat are scoring 104.8.

The Nets will attempt to give Miami its first loss of the season at AmericanAirlines Arena, where the Heat are 7-0 and one of only three teams left in the NBA with an undefeated record on their home floor.