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Wade hopes to lead Heat to sixth straight home win

Feb 13, 2007 - 4:45 PM Portland (22-30) at Miami (25-26) 7:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- South Beach has been more than just a nice view for superstar Dwyane Wade and the defending champions.

Wade and the Miami Heat will try to record their sixth straight home win Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena when they face the Portland Trail Blazers.

A three-time All-Star, Wade was named as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 27.5 points and 8.8 assists in Miami's last four games.

On Sunday, Wade scored 18 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Shaquille O'Neal added 16 as the Heat coasted to an 100-85 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.

Miami has won six of its last seven games overall. With a win on Tuesday, the Heat can reach .500 for the first time since November 12, when they were 3-3.

The Trail Blazers are coming off a 94-73 victory at Washington despite only 10 points from star forward Zach Randolph, who was 14 points shy of his season average.

Sunday's win helped Portland improve to 2-0 on its four-game East Coast swing, which finishes up the first half of the season at Orlando on Wednesday.

In their first matchup, Wade poured in 33 points on 9-of-17 shooting in Miami's 93-90 triumph at the Rose Garden on January 7.

Portland has dropped the last four meetings against the Heat.