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Heat continue playoff push without Wade; host Cavaliers

Feb 25, 2007 - 5:28 PM Cleveland (32-23) at Miami (26-28) 3:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Making the playoffs without reigning NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade will be a difficult task for the Miami Heat.

The Heat will look to Shaquille O'Neal for more production when they attempt to snap a two-game slide Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Miami's leader in scoring and assists, Wade will be sidelined indefinitely with a dislocated left shoulder. The All-Star guard missed Thursday's 112-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Miami has dropped seven of eight games this season without Wade, who is fourth in the league in scoring (28.8) and averages nearly eight assists.

The Heat are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, one game ahead of the New Jersey Nets for the final playoff berth.

Cleveland superstar LeBron James has played some of his best games against the Heat, averaging 35.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in his last six matchups against the defending champs.

After a stretch of five wins in six games, the Cavaliers managed just nine second-quarter points in Thursday's 84-78 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

James scored 29 points and Larry Hughes added 20 for Cleveland, which trails the Detroit Pistons by 3 1/2 games in the Central Division.