Amare32
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Miami Heat (19-14 ) @ Phoenix Suns (20-11)
When Friday 6th January
Time: 7.30 PT
Location: AWA, Phoenix
TV: UPN 45
Probable Starting Lineups:
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PG-Jason Williams
SG-Dwyane Wade
SF-James Posey
PF-Udonis Haslem
C-Shaquille O'Neal
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PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell
SF-Shawn Marion
PF-Boris Diaw
C-Kurt Thomas
Game Preview
After a disappointing start to a seven-game road trip, the Miami Heat hope to get back on track when they visit the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns.
Miami opened its extended trek with a 107-92 loss to the New Orleans Hornets in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Dwyane Wade had his second career triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but it wasn't enough as the Heat committed 17 turnovers and trailed by as many as 22 to one of the Western Conference's weaker teams.
"I just wish I could've done more to help my team out," said Wade, the NBA's sixth-leading scorer at 26.3 points per game.
All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal scored 19 points but grabbed only four rebounds while Jason Williams finished with 15 points for Miami, which is trying to avoid consecutive losses for the first time since a four-game skid in early December, prior to O'Neal's return from injury.
Miami hasn't won in Phoenix since a 100-90 overtime victory on Dec. 2, 2002.
"The team has to understand that when you go night in and night out into someone else's building, it's a huge game," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "They're going to come hard. They're going for the win."
After Phoenix, the Heat will visit Portland, Golden State, Seattle, Utah and the Los Angeles Lakers before returning to Miami to host defending NBA champion San Antonio on Jan. 20.
The Suns have won five of their last six games and opened a three-game homestand with Wednesday's 105-85 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Reigning MVP Steve Nash scored a game-high 24 points to lead five players in double figures, and Shawn Marion had the game's lone double-double, finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Phoenix is the league's highest scoring team, averaging 104.2 points per game, an impressive statistic considering its top scorer from last season, power forward Amare Stoudemire, hasn't played a game yet. Stoudemire is still recovering from knee surgery.
"We needed to start this homestand with a win," said Suns guard Eddie House, who scored 18 points. "(We'll) get ready for Miami, and see what we can do against them."
Wednesday's win followed a 4-1 road swing for the Suns, who held league scoring leader Allen Iverson to a season-low 16 points. The Suns' last loss was a 140-133 triple-overtime defeat to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
Heat Game Notes
Dwyane Wade recorded his first triple-double of the season and second career Wednesday, compiling 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It is the sixth triple-double in franchise history. ... G Jason Williams scored 15 points, making 5-of-9 3-pointers. The Heat made 9-of-23 shots from the arc overall, but the long rebounds helped the Hornets to a 16-4 edge in fast-break points. "They took some jumpers and got some long rebounds," C Shaquille O'Neal said. "There's really no excuse for that. They just had more energy than us."
Suns Game Notes
F Shawn Marion had 13 points and 13 rebounds Wednesday for his 23rd double-double, one behind San Antonio's Tim Duncan for the league lead. ... F James Jones scored 19 points, his best performance since December 6, 2005 vs. Portland. ... Phoenix has scored at least 100 points in eight straight games, its best stretch of the season. ... The Suns are 16-6 since November 20. ... Only conference leaders San Antonio (17-5) and Detroit (17-3) have better records since that point. ... Wednesday's game was the last in the building known as America West Arena. ... Beginning with Friday's contest, the facility will be called US Airways Center.
