Heat go for third straight win

The Heat are tied with the Toronto Raptors for ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just 1/2 game behind both Boston and Cleveland.

This is the third meeting of the season between the two clubs. Miami has won the two previous contests, picking up a win at home and at the TD Waterhouse Centre.

On Saturday, Lamar Odom posted 30 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists en route to the first Heat triple-double in nine years to lead the Heat over the Sacramento Kings, 102-96, in front of their home crowd. It was the fourth triple-double in franchise history for Miami and its first since January 5, 1995

Rafer Alston added 20 points, seven boards and seven helpers in the win for the Heat, who have won five of their last seven home games. Overall Miami has won two straight on the heals of a four-game slide.

The Heat are 19-12 at home this season.

Orlando comes into tonight’s game tied with Chicago for the least amount of wins (18) in the NBA this season. The Magic’s misery continued on Sunday, as they dropped a 107-90 decision to the Western Conference-leading Sacramento Kings at the TD Waterhouse Centre.

Juwan Howard paced Orlando with a season-high 26 points and eight rebounds in the loss to the Kings. Tracy McGrady, Tyronn Lue and DeShawn Stevenson each finished with 13 points for the Magic, who have dropped five of their last seven contests.

Orlando is winless in six games played on Tuesday this season.

The Magic, who have lost five of their last six as the visitor, are 9-24 on the road this season.

The Heat won six of their last 11 meetings with Orlando, which has lost three of its last five at Miami.