Bogut set for Cavaliers NBA debut v Miami

Australian Andrew Bogut is expected to make his debut for NBA defending champions the Cleveland Cavaliers this week against the Miami Heat.

Australian Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut is expected to make his debut for NBA defending champions the Cleveland Cavaliers. (AAP)

Cleveland will be out to avenge a rare thrashing when Andrew Bogut makes his expected debut for the NBA defending champions on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) against Miami Heat at home.

The Cavaliers opted to rest superstars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and paid the price in a 120-92 defeat by the Heat on Saturday night in Miami.

Australian centre Bogut and point guard Derron Williams have joined the eastern conference leaders after being traded by the struggling Dallas Mavericks.

Williams was on deck in Miami but his 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds could not hold back the Heat, who have won 18 of their past 22 matches as they battle the Detroit Pistons for the eight and final playoff berth in the east.

Goran Dragic led the Heat with 23 points as the hosts nailed 18 three-pointers, the second-most in franchise history.

While Bogut prepares to get back in the hunt for a second NBA title, fellow Australian Patty Mills' San Antonio Spurs clinched a playoffs spot for a 20th straight season with a 97-90 win over Minnesota in overtime.

Back-up point guard Mills was quiet with only three points from nine attempts in 32 minutes on court, while teammate Kawhi Leonard was his usual dominant self with 34 points, 10 rebounds five assists and six steals.

Sometimes dismissed as too old, the Spurs are riding high in second place in the western conference with 48 wins and 13 losses, behind just the Golden State Warriors (50-11) - the only two teams yet to clinch playoff spots.

Elsewhere, James Harden scored 33 points and 11 assists as the Houston Rockets - third in the western conference - beat the Memphis Grizzlies 123-108.

The LA Clippers accounted form the Chicago Bulls 101-91 with Jamal Crawford scoring 25 points off the bench.

Detroit downed the Philadelphia 76ers 136-106, the Portland Trailblazers beat the Brooklyn Nets 130-116, the Charlotte Hornets won 112-102 over the Denver Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Toronto Raptors 101-94.


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Source: AAP



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