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Heat-Raptors Preview

Nov 19, 2009 - 5:59 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Miami (7-4) at Toronto (5-7), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Even Dwyane Wade endures stretches of poor shooting at times. He isn't accustomed to poor games against the Toronto Raptors, though.

Wade struggled with his shot as the Miami Heat suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season, but he appears to have a good opportunity to end his problems in a matchup with the Raptors on Friday night.

Miami (7-4) has lost three of four after a fast start, with its star guard shooting 32.4 percent (12 for 37) over the last two games - a 100-87 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night and a 105-90 defeat at Atlanta the following evening.

Wade is averaging 27.6 points but was held to a season-low 15 versus the Hawks, ending a streak of 23 straight regular-season games with at least 20. He is shooting 43.1 percent on the season.

"Shooters go through shooting slumps, and that's kind of what I'm in," he said.

Matchups with Toronto (5-7), though, have rarely given Wade trouble. He scored a combined 82 points while shooting 62.3 percent in his last two contests versus the Raptors, and has averaged 26.8 points while making 53.1 percent from the field in 15 career games against them.

Toronto has struggled defensively this season, allowing 107.8 points per game. The Raptors gave up at least 100 points in losing their last three after holding their previous two opponents under 90.

The Heat got 42 points, eight assists and six rebounds from Wade to snap a six-game skid against the Raptors with a 108-102 win March 6, the teams' last meeting.

Miami hopes to have forward Udonis Haslem back Friday after he sat out against Atlanta due to an ailing left shoulder. He began feeling pain last week in the weight room and aggravated the injury against the Thunder when he fell on the shoulder.

The Heat decided to be cautious, keeping Haslem out against the Hawks even though he wanted to play. Haslem is averaging 11.7 points and a team-high 9.6 rebounds off the bench.

"He's a tough guy," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He'd like to play through it."

Miami's depth suffered another blow when Quentin Richardson sustained a lower back strain early in the third quarter against the Hawks. Richardson, averaging 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 11 starts, didn't return and his status is uncertain.

Toronto lost 104-91 to Utah on Wednesday night despite getting Hedo Turkoglu back after a one-game absence. Turkoglu had 11 points and six rebounds after missing the Raptors' 130-112 loss to Denver the previous night with a sore left hip.

The veteran swingman has averaged 14.2 points in his first 11 games with Toronto after being acquired in a trade with Orlando in July.

Even with Turkoglu back, the Raptors were held under 100 points for the first time in four games and the second time this season. Chris Bosh led Toronto with 32 points and 17 rebounds after being held to a season-low 13 points against the Nuggets.

The All-Star big man had 34 points and four assists in Toronto's last matchup with Miami.