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Heat seek 13th consecutive home win

Mar 13, 2007 - 2:05 PM Utah (43-19) at Miami (33-29) 7:30 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Miami Heat have proven they can be successful without Dwyane Wade.

Miami can win its seventh consecutive game and 13th in a row at home Tuesday when it attempts to complete a regular-season sweep of the Utah Jazz.

Without Wade, the league's third-leading scorer (28.8), the Heat have topped the century mark in each of their last three contests and are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Bulls.

For the third time in franchise history, Miami had eight players score in double figures in Sunday's 106-104 triumph over the Washington Wizards. Since January 30, the Heat have the best record in the East (14-4).

Shaquille O'Neal has put the team on his broad shoulders after the loss of Wade. The superstar center is averaging 22.7 points and 8.0 rebounds, while shooting 73 percent (30-of-41) percent from the floor in the last three games.

Utah has also been impressive, winning its last four road games and last six overall. The Jazz have a 12 1/2-game lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Northwest Division and are fourth in the West, 1 1/2 games behind the San Antonio Spurs.

Averaging 105.2 points during its streak, Utah posted a 96-86 triumph over the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday.

Mehmet Okur rebounded from Wednesday's 1-of-8 shooting performance against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 29 points and setting the single-season franchise record for 3-pointers attempted (291).

Miami won the first encounter with Utah this season, 119-111, on January 13, and has taken the last six matchups.