Miami, Houston tangle at Toyota Center

Wade and fellow starting backcourt-mate Jason Williams were in street clothes on Friday, as Shaquille O’Neal scored 23 points, pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists in his 900th career start to lead Miami past the struggling Charlotte Bobcats, 91-85, at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

Udonis Haslem posted 17 points and seven rebounds and Antoine Walker scored all 15 of his points in the second half as the Heat tallied 61 second-half points after a sluggish start en route to their third win in four games.

Wade is nursing a sprained left ankle he suffered in a loss to Phoenix on Thursday, while Williams missed his second game after getting stitches on his ring finger following a weight lifting accident. Both players will be game- time decisions this afternoon.

Miami, which will start a two-game homestand against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, is 12-12 away from home this season.

Houston, meanwhile, enters tonight’s tilt on a losing note after suffering a 96-92 home-setback at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Tracy McGrady ended with only 19 points and had eight assists for the Rockets, who had a two-game winning streak come to a halt.

Stromile Swift also had 19 points and David Wesley finished with 18, but missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds as Houston fell for the ninth time in 12 contests.

The Rockets, who are already without center Yao Ming (toe) and guards Derek Anderson (calf), Bob Sura (knee/back) and Jon Barry (calf), could also be without forward Juwan Howard, who is questionable with the flu.

Houston, which will be closing a three-game homestand today, is 14-6 in its arena this season.

Miami defeated the Rockets earlier in the season and has won three of four and four of the last six meetings. The Heat have also won six of their last nine in Houston.