Los Angeles @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 23, 2019 ) L.A. Clippers 111, Miami 99

The Miami Heat own the second-best record in the Eastern Conference primarily because of an NBA-best 20-1 home mark. The Heat look to improve on that record on Friday when they host the Los Angeles Clippers, who are 12-10 on the road after dropping a 102-95 decision to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in the third contest of a six-game road trip.

Miami received a tough battle on Wednesday from the Washington Wizards as it let a 21-point lead get away before settling for a 134-129 overtime victory to improve to 8-0 in extra time this season. "I think we just turn it up to another level," rookie shooting guard Tyler Herro said of the Heat's overtime success. "We don't know we're going to win, but we try to turn it up to another level." Los Angeles dropped in quality of performance level in the loss to Atlanta as it let a 21-point cushion evaporate while the Hawks roared back to notch the win. Paul George (hamstring) will miss his eighth straight game while fellow forward Kawhi Leonard will return to the lineup after sitting out on the second end of a back-to-back.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN, Prime Ticket, FS Sun, TSN4

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (31-14): Leonard has been playing superbly and he is averaging 36 points during a stretch of six straight 30-point outings, the franchise's best such streak since scoring machine Lloyd Free put together 11 straight during the 1979-80 season when the club was located in San Diego. Los Angeles held a 19-point halftime lead in the loss to the Hawks before being outscored 61-35 in the second half with coach Doc Rivers terming the performance as "a one-off game." Backup big man Montrezl Harrell scored 30 points for his fifth 30-point effort of the season.

ABOUT THE HEAT (31-13): Herro scored 25 points off the bench versus Washington and made seven 3-pointers to set a franchise record for most by a rookie, and he is improving as the season goes on. "I lean on my veterans and my teammates," Herro told reporters. "Every vet in here has been helping me. They told me to 'keep shooting and keep being aggressive and you will be fine.'" Backup guard Goran Dragic produced a big game off the bench as well with 22 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Heat won three of the past four meetings after the Clippers prevailed in each of the previous four.

2. Miami SF Jimmy Butler (knee) is listed as questionable after recording 24 points and 10 assists versus Washington.

3. Los Angeles PG Patrick Beverley (groin) will miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Heat 100, Clippers 96