Feb 20, 2016 11:37 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Duke Blue Devils (20) are heating up at the most crucial point in their season, and look to take another step toward the ACC lead by beating the Louisville Cardinals (18) on the road.

Duke's road win in Chapel Hill was its fifth straight and its sixth in the last seven games, a stretch preceded by a three-game skid. For Louisville, the Duke game is one of three critical matchups left on the schedule for their mission to win the ACC regular season title.

Tipoff: 12 p.m. ET in Louisville, Ken.

Line: Louisville -5

TV: ESPN

Watch live online: WatchESPN

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When the two teams played earlier this month in Durham, Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram combined to score 37 points on 10-21 shooting in a winning effort. Louisville's leading scorers, Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, only totaled 21 together and shot 8-25.

With their guards' lethal scoring capabilities, Duke is dangerous when they play defense. When they tipoff Saturday afternoon, Louisville will have to find a way to keep Duke's defense off-balance and let Lee and Lewis get into a rhythm.

"We had a long meeting the other day, and I just told them, we're all emotionally drained (and) the object right now is not to be bitter, but to get better," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said in a pregame press conference, according to ESPN. "Bitterness gets you nothing. Getting better is what it's all about."

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