Raptors try to get hot in Miami

Miami plays the first of a two-game homestand. On Friday, J.R. Smith poured in a career-high 37 points on 12-of-18 shooting to lead the Denver Nuggets over the Heat, 123-107, at the Pepsi Center.

All-Star Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem both scored 21 points in the loss to Denver for the Heat, who have dropped two of their last three games overall. Jason Kapono netted 19 off the bench, while Dorell Wright ended with 11 points in defeat.

The Heat are 3-6 at home this season. They will host reigning MVP Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Toronto, which has lost three in a row, begins a two-game road trip this evening. On Sunday, Jarrett Jack had 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 93-83 win over the Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

Morris Peterson scored a season-best 23 points and T.J. Ford ended with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists in the loss to Portland for the Raptors, Jorge Garbajosa finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for Toronto, which played without All-Star forward Chris Bosh, who missed the game with a sore left knee.

Bosh leads the Raptors in scoring (20.5 ppg) and rebounding (12.2 rpg). He is expected to miss tonight’s contest.

The Raptors, who will visit Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic on Wednesday at TD Waterhouse Centre, are a dismal 2-10 on the road this season.

Toronto has lost two straight after winning its last two at Miami. The Heat have captured six of the last seven meetings in this series.