Miami hosts Minnesota for cross-conference matchup

Minnesota Timberwolves (38-30, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (45-23, first in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

LINE: Heat -5.5; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat host Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves in a non-conference matchup.

The Heat have gone 24-8 at home. Miami ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 25.8 assists per game led by Kyle Lowry averaging 7.9.

The Timberwolves are 16-18 on the road. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference shooting 35.2% from downtown. McKinley Wright IV paces the Timberwolves shooting 50% from 3-point range.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Timberwolves won the last meeting 113-101 on Nov. 25, with Anthony Edwards scoring 33 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Herro is averaging 20.7 points and 3.9 assists for the Heat. Duncan Robinson is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Miami.

Towns is averaging 24.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Timberwolves. D'Angelo Russell is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

LAST 10 GAMES:

INJURIES: Heat: Markieff Morris: out (reconditioning), Caleb Martin: out (knee).

Timberwolves: Patrick Beverley: day to day (ear), Jordan McLaughlin: out (groin).

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