Miami Heat Team Report - January 24

(Basketball News) - The Eastern Conference-leading Miami Heat take their show on the road this evening, when they tangle with the Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia 76ers in the first of a three-game road trip at the Wachovia Center.

Miami has won two of its last three contests after posting a 97-68 thrashing of the lowly New Orleans Hornets on Sunday at American Airlines Arena. Dwyane Wade scored 18 points and four other Miami players finished in double-figures in the win.

Damon Jones, Michael Doleac and Keyon Dooling each recorded 13 points for the Heat, who led 37-13 after one quarter and cruised to victory. Shaquille O’Neal compiled 12 points and eight rebounds in just 23 minutes. O’Neal was limited to 23 minutes so that he could rest his aching knee.

The Heat were burning up the nets, hitting 50 percent of their shots from the field. Miami also drained 6-of-16 (.375) from three-point range and 11-of-12 (.917) from the free throw line.

Eddie Jones left the game in the third quarter with back spasms. Jones is listed as questionable for this evening’s game.

Miami’s current 30-12 record matches the franchise’s best mark after 42 games set in 1996-97. The Heat, however, have lost three of their last four road games. For the year, Miami owns a 14-7 mark in foreign buildings.

Miami won the first meeting of the year between these teams, 93-83, at American Airlines Arena on Nov. 21. The Heat have won two straight after losing the previous seven meetings in the set. Miami has lost four straight and eight of its last nine in Philadelphia.