It will be a tall order for the Charlotte Bobcats to snap their 15-game losing streak Wednesday night when they host the defending champion Miami Heat.
The Bobcats haven't won in December and not since a double-overtime victory Nov. 24 at Washington. That victory gave them seven for the season, which matched their win total for all of last season when they finished with the worst winning percentage in NBA history.
"Losing is one of the hardest things you can go through, especially losing as many as we have," guard Kemba Walker said. "But you have to keep your chin up, you have to know that these losses will turn into wins one day."
The Bobcats' most recent setback came on Saturday when they fell, 110-88 in Denver against the Nuggets. That ended a four-game western trip for Charlotte, which was short-handed against Denver. Gerald Henderson missed the game with a bruised right shin and Ben Gordon sat out with a sore right knee.
Ramon Sessions led the way with 23 points off the bench and Byron Mullens chipped in 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Bobcats shot 37.9 percent from the field and 15 percent from beyond the arc, while the Nuggets shot 51.1 percent from the field.
They will take on a Heat team that bested the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Christmas rematch of the NBA Finals. The victory was the Heat's fifth in a row and the 103-97 win over Oklahoma City was well-balanced.
LeBron James led the way with 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Dwyane Wade added 21 points and Mario Chalmers chipped in 20.
"Regardless of what your script is coming into the game, when you play a team like this team it's not going to go according to script," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "They're too good, instinctual. They make great plays. They're relentless. They just keep on coming at you. At the end of the day you just have to find a way."
The game was hard-fought and came down to the wire, but the Heat shot the ball extremely well, especially at the foul line. Miami went 19-for-19 from the free-throw line and shot a respectable 47.5 percent from the field.
The Heat, never known to be a great defensive team, forced 17 Oklahoma City turnovers.
Miami has scored over 100 points in every game during this winning streak. Four of the five victories have been by double-figures and a win on Wednesday would give the Heat their best 26-game start in franchise history.
The Heat have won their last eight against the Bobcats.
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