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(SportsNetwork. Darryl Kile Jersey .com) - A pair of Southeast Division foes will renew their rivalry Monday, as the Washington Wizards battle the Miami Heat at the Verizon Center. The Wizards will be out for revenge of a 107-95 loss in Miami on Oct. 29 and have lost six of the previous eight games in this series. Washington, though, has won two in a row and four of the past five meetings at home and is trying to pass the Heat as the top team in the division. The two rivals will meet again Dec. 19 in Miami and March 15 at Washington. Washington ended a two-game losing streak its last time out in an 83-80 triumph versus the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday in the opener of a four-game homestand. The division-leading Wizards were led by Marcin Gortat, who powered his way to 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Gortat played 41 minutes and was 12-of-20 from the floor. I think my teammates found me a lot. I think I was in the right spots, said Gortat. (I) tried to be productive, tried to be aggressive (and) a little bit more physical. Bradley Beal scored 12 points, John Wall had 11 and seven assists, and Paul Pierce chipped in 10 points, helping the Wizards improve to 10-5 overall and 6-2 at the Verizon Center. Pierce is averaging 15.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in his last six games. In six games since returning from a wrist injury, Beal is averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. The Wizards are averaging 98.4 ppg at home and will also entertain the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. In injury news, forward Nene (foot) is questionable versus the Heat and has missed the last three games. Miami is playing the second game of a back-to-back and defeated the New York Knicks, 86-79, Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. Heat star guard Dwyane Wade returned from a seven-game absence because of a hamstring issue and scored 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting. The Heat went 3-4 without Wade and also received 20 points and nine rebounds from Chris Bosh. Luol Deng rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and 10 boards. Knicks star Carmelo Anthony returned after a two-game absence because of back spasms and netted 31 points. Wade scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and talked about his role in crunchtime. I understand that in the fourth quarter, Chris (Bosh) and myself are going to be the guys that our team is going to be looking at to bring it home, Wade said. Thats the only quarter that I can really be selfish. New York rallied from 16 points down to pull within 65-63, but Wade and the Heat were able to maintain their lead. Boshs 3-pointer with about a minute left set the Heat up for their fourth win in the last six games. The Heat are playing seven of the next eight games on the road and are 5-2 outside of South Beach this season. They will host Atlanta Wednesday before embarking on a five-game odyssey. Miami is 5-1 this season when scoring 100 or more points and 8-0 when leading after three quarters. Larry Dierker Jersey . CSKA received the heavier punishment of playing its next European home game behind closed doors, after its supporters displayed racist and far-right symbols in the Czech Republic during a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzen on Dec. Joe Pepitone Jersey . - Ronda Rousey realizes shes finishing up one of the biggest years for any fighter in the young history of mixed martial arts at UFC 168, and the UFCs bantamweight champion intends to go out on top. OAKLAND, Calif. -- The beginning of Julys first blockbuster trade occurred about a month ago, when Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane called Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein to ask about Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Beane told Epstein he liked the starting pitchers, and he was going to be aggressive in an attempt to improve the AL West leaders. Fast forward to this weekend, when Beane proved just how serious he was during that initial call. Oakland and Chicago announced the big trade on Saturday, with Samardzija and Hammel heading to the West Coast for a package of prospects that included the As first-round selections in each of the past two drafts. "The deal speaks for itself. To pick up two guys like that in early June is pretty fantastic," As manager Bob Melvin said. "We wanted more options and saw the urgency to get it done. This makes us better." The Athletics began the day with the best record in baseball, but Beane felt he needed to add depth to a rotation that responded well to season-ending injuries for Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin. Drew Pomeranz also is on the disabled list with a broken right hand. Samardzija and Hammel join Scott Kazmir and Sonny Gray in one of the majors best group of starting pitchers. "We had to dig into our depth really early, and we felt like we needed two (starting pitchers)," Beane said. Samardzija will start for the As on Sunday. He was scheduled to pitch for the Cubs Saturday. In somewhat of a surprise, the As sent left-hander Tommy Milone to Triple-A Sacramento later Saturday to make room for Samardzija. Milone was 6-0 with a 2.62 ERA over his last 11 starts and 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 16 starts overall. "What do you say to a guy like that?" Melvin said. "Hes been terrific his last 10 starts and has meant a lot to us the last three years. I tried to figure out what to say to him. We havent seen the last of him." Oakland will make a move Sunday to clear space for Hammel, who will start Wednesday. Minor leaguers Addison Russell, Billy McKinney and Dan Straily went to Chicago in another painful deal for the lowly Cubs, who have played better of late, but are still last in the NL Central. Chicago also gets a player to be named in its latest July sell-off. The Cubs lost at least 91 games in each of the previous three years. They traded away starting pitchers Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm in July 2012, and Matt Garza and Scott Feldman last July. "We certainly hope that this is the last year that were obvious sellers at the trade deadline," Epstein said. The key piece for Chicago in the deal with Oakland was Russell, a 20-year-old shortstop headed for Double-A Tennessee. A torn right hamstring sidelined the No. 11 overall selection in the 2012 drraft earlier this season, but he was batting . Ryan Pressly Jersey. 333 in 13 games for Double-A Midland at the time of the trade. Chicago and Oakland talked about a Samardzija for Russell deal, but Epstein said the one-for-one framework didnt work. He spoke with Beane on Thursday night, and thats when the trade grew into the larger package. "We felt like Russell was a key for us in any deal with Oakland," Epstein said. The hard-throwing Samardzija had a 2-7 record for the Cubs, but he also had a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 108 innings, making him one of the most coveted pitchers on the market. The former Notre Dame receiver was selected by Chicago in the fifth round in 2006. Chicago recalled left-hander Chris Rusin from Triple-A Iowa. Epstein said the Cubs were still discussing their options when it came to the rotation. "I can say that (after that) its going to stay the same until Tuesday for the doubleheader (at Cincinnati)," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of the rotation after Saturday. Jake Arrieta is set to start Sunday in Washington and Edwin Jackson on Monday at Cincinnati. The Cubs will add a 26th man, Tsuyoshi Wada, for Tuesdays doubleheader. The Cubs talked to the 29-year-old Samardzija about a contract extension, but were unable to come to an agreement. He is set to become a free agent for the first time after the 2015 season. "Jeff has been a bit of workhorse," Beane said. "Hes got a perfect health record. Hes a guy that continues to develop. Hes gotten better and better each year he goes out." Hammel signed a $6 million, one-year contract with Chicago in February and went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 108 2-3 innings with the Cubs. He pitched six-plus innings in a 7-2 victory over Washington on Friday. Hammel, who turns 32 in September, also has three career post-season starts. "Hes gotten better and better and we think now is a great time to have him," Beane said. The 19-year-old McKinney, who was selected in the first round a year ago, hit .241 with 10 homers for Class A Stockton this season. He is headed for Chicagos Class A affiliate in Daytona, Florida, where he will share the outfield with another top prospect in Albert Almora. Straily finished 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 27 starts for the As last year. He was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento after struggling earlier this season, and Epstein said he likely would be up with the Cubs after a short stay at Triple-A Iowa. Even before the deal, Chicago had one of the richest minor league systems in baseball. The addition of Russell and McKinney just enhances the Cubs impressive group of prospects. "We think we have a real outstanding stable of good young position players that is a stable base to build off," Epstein said. "We like how this positions us." ' ' '