• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

O'Neal, Heat look to get back on track vs. undermanned Sixers

Mar 24, 2007 - 1:52 PM Philadelphia (27-42) at Miami (37-31) 7:30 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Shaquille O'Neal has put the Miami Heat on his back since Dwyane Wade went down with an injury. But the superstar center now may be feeling the strain.

One night after an an embarassing loss at Indiana, O'Neal and the Heat face the Philadelphia 76ers, who may be without durable swingman Andre Iguodala.

Miami is 11-4 without Wade, the superstar guard who has been sidelined since February 21 with a dislocated shoulder. He has opted to forgo surgery and hopes to return before the start of the playoffs.

In Wade's absence, O'Neal has stepped up and carried the offensive load for the Heat. Miami is one-half game behind first-place Washington (37-30) in the Southeast Division and two games behind fifth-place Chicago (40-30) in the Eastern Conference.

But in his last two contests, O'Neal has collected just 25 points and six rebounds combined, including just 13 points in a 95-70 loss at Indiana on Friday.

The Heat shot just 17 percent (3-of-18) from the field and missed all nine 3-point attempts in the first quarter as Indiana raced to a 33-9 lead.

The loss was just the third in 14 games for Miami.

O'Neal will look to continue his dominance of the 76ers. He is averaging 26.5 points and 11.9 rebounds in 37 career games against Philadelphia.

The Heat have won six straight games against the Sixers but O'Neal has missed all three of those contests this season.

Philadelphia played without Iguodala in Friday's 106-97 win over Charlotte. Andre Miller scored 19 points to lead seven players in double figures.

Iguodala had played in 232 straight games before he was forced to sit out Friday due to a sore back. He is questionable for Saturday's contest.