The talk of the NBA on Sunday and Monday has been questioning the manhood of the Miami Heat after Coach Erik Spoelstra said some players were crying in the locker room following Sunday’s last-second loss to the Chicago Bulls. So the players are probably more than ready to get back on the court and put that mini-embarrassment behind them when they host Portland tonight. Miami is an 8.5-point favorite on Bodog’s NBA odds.

That loss to Chicago continued a trend in that Miami can’t seem to score with 10 seconds left in a close game or beat the NBA’s elite: the Heat are now 1-9 against the NBA’s top five teams. The Heat, who have dropped four straight, have now missed 13 shots in a row from the field when it had a chance to tie the score or go ahead in the final 10 seconds and are 1 for 16 in those situations this season. In the final 30 seconds, with the Heat tied or trailing by three or fewer, Miami is 4 for 26, with LeBron James 2 for 10 and Dwyane Wade 1 for 8. Spoelstra, by the way, said Monday that there wasn’t actually crying in the locker room but that guys were just emotional. Still, the Heat have been tweaked by many around the league for their perceived softness.

Despite being ravaged by injuries, Portland continues to play well. The Trail Blazers have won 10 of 13, picking up their third straight victory 89-85 at Orlando on Monday. LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 to lead Portland, which didn’t have to face a suspended Dwight Howard. The Blazers had just seven turnovers in winning their sixth straight road game.

Miami won in Portland 107-100, on Jan.?9. The Heat’s Big 3 went off with LeBron having 44 points and 13 rebounds, Wade adding 34 points and Chris Bosh 18. Portland got 31 points and 14 rebounds from Aldridge and played that game without guard Brandon Roy, who has returned from injury.

Can the Heat win a close game? Bet on this one now at Bodog!