Just What’s Needed
Miami,Fla – This wasn’t the start Miami was looking for when it acquired Jermaine O’Neal. Facing a Philadelphia 76ers team that may be without its durable point guard could be exactly what the Heat need to get back on track.
Miami looks to avoid its first three-game home losing streak in nearly a year Saturday afternoon when it meets a 76ers squad trying to regain its pre-All-Star break form.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Heat N/A. point spread favorites for Wednesday’s game against the 76ers. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that N/A% of more than N/A bets for this game have been placed on the N/A.
The Heat (28-25) are trying to regroup following Wednesday’s 111-104 loss to Minnesota – their second straight at home. They haven’t dropped three in a row in Miami since March 5-21, 2008, when they lost seven straight.
In the starting lineup in his Miami debut, the oft-injured O’Neal suffered a bruised right eye in the third quarter as Mike Miller was called for a charge. O’Neal went to the locker room but returned and finished with 13 points and one rebound in 27 minutes.
"I would not have scripted this for my first game," said O’Neal, who missed 14 games with Toronto this season before being acquired Feb. 13. "Absolutely not."
Nor was he expecting the Heat to get outrebounded 49-24. It was Miami’s fewest rebounds in a game since grabbing 23 in a 139-118 loss at Boston on April 12, 1990.
"I don’t care if I’m on only one leg," said O’Neal, averaging 6.9 boards. "I should never grab only one rebound."
The Heat will have to do a better job on the boards Saturday as they face a Philadelphia team ranked in the top 10 in rebounding at 42.7 per game. Miami is averaging 39.2.
O’Neal practiced Thursday but is questionable after meeting with a specialist.
Jamario Moon, acquired with O’Neal in the deal that sent Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Toronto, went scoreless Wednesday in five minutes off the bench.
James Jones could miss the 76ers’ second visit to Miami this season after bruising his right hand on the play that O’Neal was injured. Jones missed Thursday’s practice and also met with a specialist.
After posting his 12th double-double of the season with 37 points and 12 assists, Dwyane Wade easily summed up Wednesday’s defeat.
"It’s a terrible loss," he said.
In these teams’ last meeting in Miami, Wade had 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Heat defeated Philadelphia 106-83 on Nov. 5.
According to Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, Wade was sent home from Thursday’s practice with flulike symptoms. He’s expected to play Saturday.
It is uncertain whether Philadelphia’s Andre Miller will be available. The 10th-year point guard strained his right calf in the third quarter as Philadelphia (27-26) fell 101-89 to Denver on Wednesday. If Miller sits out, it will snap the NBA’s longest current consecutive games played streak at 501.
Miller is averaging 13.0 points and 5.5 assists as Philadelphia has split two games with the Heat this season.
Opening a four-game road trip, the 76ers are looking to snap a two-game skid following four straight wins heading into the All-Star break.
"We’ve just got to regroup and forget this one," leading scorer Andre Iguodala said Wednesday. "We’ve got to focus defensively and until we understand that’s how we’re going to win games, it’s going to hurt."
Iguodala, averaging 17.7 points, had two in the Nov. 5 loss to the Heat, Philadelphia’s seventh in its last nine visits to Miami.
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Posted: 2/21/09 3:00AM ET