Heat vs. Blazers: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The 27-7 Miami Heat will look to continue their recent roll as they head to the West Coast to take on the 18-17 Portland Trail Blazers. While the Heat are currently in a battle for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Blazers are simply trying to make it into the Western Conference's top eight.

Most consider the Heat to be the best team in the entire league right now and thus the odds-on favorite to win the title this season. It's tough to argue with that, as the triumvirate of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh is banging on all cylinders, but they'll have to find a way to keep their momentum moving in a positive direction.

While the Blazers haven't been among their conference's elite teams in quite some time, they have been a surefire playoff team in recent years, so they seem like a shoe in again this season. They are currently a half-game out, but a win over the Heat would help their standing as well as their confidence.

Here is everything you need to know about the showdown between the Heat and Blazers in Portland on Thursday night.

Where: Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.

When: Thursday, March 1 at 10:30 p.m. EST

Watch: TNT

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Listen: 790 AM The Ticket (Miami) and 750 AM The Game (Portland)

Betting Line: Miami (-4.5)

Heat Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

No Injuries to Report

Blazers Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Doubtful: PF Kurt Thomas (concussion)

What They're Saying

While the Heat have a tough road game to contend with against the Blazers, all anyone seems to want to talk about is Dwyane Wade's foul on Kobe Bryant in the All-Star Game, which resulted in Bryant suffering a broken nose and concussion.

Although Bryant's teammates weren't overly happy about it, Wade said that it was an accident and that he apologized to Kobe, according to Robbie Levin of the Miami Herald.

"

He knows it’s no ill intent on me to do that, Wade said at practice Tuesday. Did I take a foul? Yes, I took a foul. So, talk about me for taking a foul. But I never wanted that kind of outcome.

I don’t know if anybody wants me to get down on my knees in front of the world and [apologize], Wade said. I don’t have to do that. Like I said, everyone has an opinion, everyone uses their opinion. Like I said, I sent my apologies to Kobe, and I move on from it.

"

Most Important Player to Watch: LeBron James

It's fair to say that Heat forward LeBron James is the best player in the game right now, and his numbers this season certainly reflect that. Not only is he pouring in 27.4 points per game, but he is also grabbing 8.1 boards and dishing out 6.8 assists as well. In addition to that, LeBron has clearly refined his game this year as he has cut down on three-point attempts and gotten to the rim with more regularity.

His sparkling 54.7 percent field goal percentage clearly shows that the evolution has been an effective one. If James plays poorly on any given night then the Heat can still get by thanks to Wade and Bosh, but James really hasn't played poorly at all this season, and that is why Miami has lost a mere seven times.

Key Matchup: Chris Bosh vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

It wasn't long ago that the overwhelming sentiment was that center Greg Oden was the future of the Blazers' franchise. Oden, of course, has been unable to stay on the floor, but Portland was lucky enough to find a true cornerstone big man in LaMarcus Aldridge. He has developed into an All-Star and is putting up over 22 points and eight rebounds per game.

The Heat have a stud power forward as well in Chris Bosh, and although he may not put up numbers quite as good as Aldridge's, his talent is obvious. Neither player is a defensive stalwart, but both have varied offensive games as they can score in the paint or on mid-range jumpers. With that said, it will be interesting to see who gets the better of things on Thursday night.

Prediction

Heat 101, Blazers 95