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Heat face division-leading Wizards, aim for sixth straight win

Mar 11, 2007 - 4:42 PM Washington (34-27) at Miami (32-29) 6:00 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) - Don't look now, but Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat are climbing in the Eastern Conference standings.

O'Neal and the Heat aim for their season-high sixth straight win when they host the Washington Wizards, who hold just a two-game lead over Miami in the Southeast Division.

Expected to sink after superstar Dwyane Wade dislocated his shoulder February 21, the Heat (32-29) have gone in the other direction, posting a 6-2 record with the reigning NBA Finals MVP sidelined until at least next month.

Miami has been led by a resurgent O'Neal, who is averaging 24.8 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the field during the winning streak. In Friday's 105-91 victory over Minnesota, O'Neal was stellar again, scoring a season-high 32 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

The Heat have vaulted to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, just 6 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit (38-22). They are even closer to the Wizards in the Southeast Division.

After a three-game winning streak, Washington has lost two in a row, including Saturday's crushing 90-89 home loss to New York. Andray Blatche missed a crucial free throw, allowing Knicks guard Steve Francis to nail a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.

The Wizards have lost 13 of their last 14 games against the Heat. The only win was a 106-95 triumph on December 15 in which O'Neal and Wade were both sidelined with injuries.