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Heat, Raptors clash in south Florida

Jan 22, 2011 - 4:09 PM (Sports Network) - The Miami Heat look to take out their frustrations on a team they have already beaten this season, the Toronto Raptors, when they close out a brief two-game homestand tonight in south Florida.

The Heat handed the Raptors a 109-100 defeat back on Nov. 13 down south behind 31 points from Dwyane Wade and 23 out of LeBron James. Miami has won three of four and four of the last six meetings with Toronto, losers in three straight and 11 of its last 16 trips to AmericanAirlines Arena.

Miami has lost a season-high four straight since a nine-game winning streak and is coming off Tuesday's 93-89 overtime loss versus the Atlanta Hawks at home. James finished with a game-high 34 points and 10 rebounds, while Wade supplied 27 points for the Heat, who were without center and former Raptor Chris Bosh for the first time this season because of a sprained left ankle.

Bosh is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game.

"[The Hawks] made all the right plays down the stretch," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "If somebody came to help, they found the open man."

Spoelstra's squad is still a dominating 15-5 at home this season.

Toronto hopes to salvage the finale of a five-game road trip and put the brakes on a six-game slide Saturday in Miami.

The Raptors are coming off Friday's 112-72 blowout loss in Orlando, as DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points and Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson both finished with 11 points in defeat.

"We couldn't keep Dwight (Howard) off the glass, offensively or defensively," Toronto head coach Jay Triano said. "We're not a good rebounding team. It's a conscious effort to go get it and we don't have a lot of guys who have the distinct nose for it."

Howard had 31 points and 19 rebounds to lead Orlando.

Toronto is only 5-18 away from Air Canada Centre this season. It was outrebounded by a 60-44 margin last night and had 31 second half points.

The Raptors have lost five in a row on the road.