Miami @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 29, 2018 ) Miami 95, Dallas 88

The Miami Heat have performed well away from home for much of the season, but wins have been tough to come by on their current trip against some of the best the Western Conference has to offer. They will try to snap a three-game losing streak and enter the All-Star break on a positive note when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

One night after a valiant effort in a two-point loss at Golden State, Miami dropped a 103-87 decision at Denver on Monday, tumbling out of the top eight in the East. "This game and Sacramento (on Friday), turnovers were a big part of that," forward Justise Winslow told reporters after the Heat turned it over 19 times against the Nuggets. "That's what makes teams great, the consistency. But we've been playing really well on this road trip. It doesn't feel like 1-3." The Mavericks had won six of nine before running into James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Monday and falling 120-104. Rookie Luka Doncic had 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Dallas, which returns home looking to build on its 20-8 record at American Airlines Center.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE HEAT (25-30): Center Hassan Whiteside entered Denver averaging 17.8 points and 14.6 rebounds during a streak of five straight double-doubles, but he was held to six and eight, respectively, against the Nuggets' big men. "Every night is not going to be perfect," coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters of Whiteside. "He's been trending in the right direction." The 29-year-old Whiteside averages 14.1 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks at home, where Miami plays 10 of 12 games soon after the All-Star break.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (26-30): Doncic is likely looking forward to the break after playing all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter in Sunday's win over Portland and then carrying Dallas through 36 minutes in the loss to Houston. "It's a little bit," he told reporters Monday when asked if the season was wearing on him. "It's different from in Europe, a tough season. I had a long season last year, so, yeah, it's getting a little bit tougher." The 19-year-old isn't showing any signs of slowing down on the stat sheet, averaging 24.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in five games this month.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Heat SG Josh Richardson averaged 19 points on 68.2 percent shooting to help his team sweep two meetings with the Mavericks last season.

2. Mavericks PF Dwight Powell is shooting 62.3 percent from the floor over a 10-game span.

3. Miami SG Dion Waiters is 16-for-33 from 3-point range over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 104, Heat 103