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Spurs try to bounce back from difficult loss vs. Heat

Feb 11, 2007 - 1:33 PM San Antonio (33-17) at Miami (24-26) 1:00 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- It's not surprising the San Antonio Spurs underwent a strange experience in the middle of a three-week road trip.

The Spurs attempt to rebound from one of their more difficult losses Sunday when they continue their eight-game road swing against the defending-champion Miami Heat.

After splitting the first four games of their "Rodeo Road Trip", the Spurs squandered an 18-point lead in Friday's 106-104 loss to the Orlando Magic. It was the fourth time in 24 games San Antonio lost when scoring 100 points this season.

The Spurs slipped to 17-9 away from home after failing to hold a six-point advantage with less than two minutes left. Dwight Howard's one-handed dunk off an alley-oop inbounds pass with six-tenths of a second to play completed the Magic's comeback.

Tim Duncan scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds against Orlando. The two-time Most Valuable Player is averaging 24.3 points and 12.4 boards in his last eight contests.

Although they have hovered below the .500 mark for much of the season, the Heat have started to show signs of life with the return of center Shaquille O'Neal, who sat out 35 games with a knee injury.

Miami won five straight contests before Friday's 103-79 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Reigning Finals MVP Dwyane Wade scored 27 points and O'Neal added 14 for the Heat.

San Antonio has won nine of the last 10 encounters against Miami, including a 106-86 triumph November 22.