There are times when the Heat would probably like to curse the NBA for the schedule it was dealt.
And then there are times like Saturday, when the team could probably kiss the computer that spit out a visit from the Sacramento Kings at the end of a six-game trip.
The Heat ran into a team that had plenty of its own issues when it comes to mounting enough effort and energy on the second night of back-to-back sets. The result was a 115-84 blowout victory for the Heat, which improved to 2-6 in the second games of a back-to-back set.
Dwyane Wade had 27 points, Michael Beasley added 21 and a season-high 13 rebounds and the Heat had five players finish in double figures to blow past the Kings. Miami has won eight in a row at home against Sacramento, which closed out a 0-6 road trip and has lost seven in a row overall.
This was the perfect punching bag for the Heat, which needed to take out its frustrations on someone after that 39-point loss in Charlotte on Wednesday. Miami wrapped up a stretch of four games in five nights with a 3-1 record.
"At the end of the day," coach Erik Spoelstra said, "it was a positive week."
D. WADE'S DOINGS: We'll learn more if he can continue this on Monday against Cleveland, but Wade is officially in mid-season form. Saturday's effort was about as good and efficient as it gets from Wade, who finished with 27 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three blocks and no turnovers in 30 minutes. He didn't play the fourth quarter. He didn't have to. The Heat had put this one out of reach early in the third quarter. Over his last six games, Wade is shooting 57.3 percent from the field. He's distanced himself from that early-season shooting slump.
TURNING POINT: The Heat put this one away in the second quarter, after the Kings closed to within 33-31. Miami responded with a pair of free throws from Mario Chalmers, a three-point play from Beasley and two buckets from Dorell Wright to push the lead back to double figures. The second unit responded to the Kings threat by igniting what would be a 27-8 run late in the second quarter. And it was over.
WINNING EDGE:Two numbers stand out. Miami shot 56.4 percent from the field, marking just the 10th time in franchise history that it has shot better than 55 percent from the field in consecutive games. The Heat also scored 23 points off 14 turnovers by the Kings.
HEAD-SCRATCHER: With newspaper deadlines being what they are right now, I was well into crafting the game story when I noticed the loud cheers late in the blowout every time the Kings scored. Then, it came as little surprise that South Florida was showing big-time love for Kings forward Omri Casspi, the first Israeli-born player to enter the NBA. Casspi cleaned up in garbage time, scoring all 13 points in the second half, including seven on 3 of 3 shooting in the fourth quarter. The kid has plenty of game. Once he gains some NBA experience, he could be really special. His combination of length, athleticism and scoring has made him one to watch. He definitely had his own cheering section of flag-waving fans in Miami.
KEY CONTRIBUTION: Beasley's 21 and 13 made it a solid night for the second-year power forward. These are the kind of numbers he put up in his lone remarkable season at Kansas State. It's been back-to-back encouraging performances for Beasley, who displayed his improved defense in Friday's win at Washington by slowing Antawn Jamison. On Saturday, he did it at both ends again. He was 8 of 15 from the field, with four assists, two steals and block in 35 minutes.
NEXT UP: Cleveland Cavaliers at Heat, 7:30 Monday - AmericanAirlines Arena
(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)
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