Sixers, Heat square off in South Beach

Miami has lost two of its last three games following a nine-game winning streak, and suffered a 95-70 setback to the Indiana Pacers on Friday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Shaquille O’Neal had 13 points for Miami, which is a half game behind the Washington Wizards for first place in the Southeast Division and sixth overall in the Eastern Conference. No other Miami player reached double figures.

The Heat will also host Atlanta and are 23-11 in South Beach this season.

Philadelphia put the brakes on a two-game losing streak with Friday’s 106-97 win over the Charlotte Bobcats at the Wachovia Center.

Andre Miller had 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the 76ers, who won for just the second time in six games after a seven-game winning streak. Willie Green added 18 points and Steven Hunter had 12 points and nine rebounds in the winning effort.

The Sixers played without Andre Iguodala, who missed the game with a strained lower back. It was the first game Iguodala missed in his NBA career. Entering this game, Iguodala had started 232 straight regular season games, which was the third-longest active streak in the NBA behind Bruce Bowen of the Spurs and Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince.

Iguodala is questionable for tonight’s game in Miami.

Philly will also visit Washington on the trek and is 9-25 on the road this season. The Sixers are 4 1/2 games off the seventh and eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Saturday’s showdown between Philadelphia and Miami is the fourth and final meeting of the regular season. The Sixers lead the season series, 2-1, but Miami has won four of the last six encounters.

The Sixers have dropped their last six trips to South Beach.