Los Angeles @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 8, 2018 ) Miami 121, L.A. Clippers 98

The Miami Heat have taken a step backward in recent weeks and look to start a turnaround when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Miami lost only five times in a 17-game stretch to move above .500 but has since lost five of its last eight contests to drop back under the break-even mark.

The Heat have failed to reach 100 points in all the setbacks during the eight-game span, which includes Monday's 107-99 road loss against the Boston Celtics. "This is almost like we went back six weeks, coughing up all these possessions," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after his club committed 20 turnovers against the Celtics. "It's just tough and it makes it extremely hard to find rhythm when we're turning the ball over that often." The Clippers are struggling with six losses in their past seven games after falling 106-98 to the host Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. "We couldn't make open shots," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters afterward. "We had wide open shots and they just didn't go in. That happens sometimes. I thought we made a lot of a game plan mistakes, offensive and defensively."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Sun (Miami)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (25-22): Los Angeles is in the midst of a lackluster stretch in which it has lost eight of its past 12 contests with four of the setbacks being by double digits. Sixth man Lou Williams (hamstring) returned from a two-game absence to score 15 points but was unable to be a difference-maker due to a 5-of-16 shooting effort. Point guard Patrick Beverley is averaging 17 points and 10.5 rebounds over the past two games after averaging just three points over the previous seven games with a high output of six.

ABOUT THE HEAT (22-23): Third-year pro Derrick Jones Jr. continues to make strides and he scored a career-high 18 points against Boston for his sixth double-digit outing in his past 10 appearances. The 21-year-old forward also collected nine rebounds versus the Celtics and is in line to receive more playing time with a promotion to the starting lineup being possible. "I just go out there and play my game, starting or coming off the bench," Jones told reporters. "Either way, I feel comfortable doing whatever I need to do, whatever the team needs me to do."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Heat have won the past three meetings, including a 121-98 road victory over the Clippers on Dec. 8.

2. Los Angeles SF Tobias Harris had just nine points on 1-of-9 shooting against Dallas for his third single-digit effort of the campaign.

3. Miami SF Justise Winslow scored eight points on 1-of-5 shooting against Boston to snap a streak of 13 straight double-digit performances.

PREDICTION: Heat 107, Clippers 101