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Reeling Heat hope to snap skid vs. Spurs

Jan 17, 2012 - 4:35 PM (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs have plenty of chances ahead to earn their first road win of the season, but tonight's test against the Miami Heat in South Florida doesn't appear to be in their favor.

The Spurs have lost all four of their road games this season and are a sizzling 9-0 in the Alamo City. They will play two straight, four of five and seven of the next nine games on enemy territory, and are coming off Sunday's 102-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns at the AT&T Center in the finale of a perfect three-game homestand.

Tim Duncan recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Tony Parker had 17 points and nine assists for the Spurs, who have won six of eight games overall. DeJuan Blair scored 14 points in a winning effort. Duncan's jumper with 1:29 left in the second quarter moved him past Gary Payton into 26th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

"Everybody made a conscious effort to play good defense," said Parker. "If you don't play good defense you're not going to be successful in this league."

The last time the Spurs started out a season with at least nine straight wins at the AT&T Center was the 2007-08 campaign, when they started 13-0. Gary Neal suffered a right quad contusion in the second quarter and didn't return. He is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game.

San Antonio began the 2009-10 campaign with losses in its first four road games and hasn't started a season 0-5 as the guest since 1988-89.

Miami is mired in a season-high three-game losing streak and just went 2-3 on a 10-day, five-game road trip. It will play five straight and eight of nine games at home and recently dropped a 117-104 decision at Denver on Friday.

LeBron James scored 35 points and Chris Bosh finished with 17 and eight boards. Dwyane Wade had 12 points before departing in the fourth quarter with a right ankle injury. X-rays after the game showed no break.

"They just broke us down too many times, broke down our defense too many times and were able to get pretty much whatever they wanted," James told the Heat's official website.

Wade was ruled out of tonight's opener of the homestand after the team shootaround on Tuesday morning.

The Heat, who are 3-1 at home and began the season 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. will also host the Lakers, 76ers, Bucks and Cavs on the residency. They split a home-and-home series with San Antonio a year ago, with each team prevailing as the host.

San Antonio has still won four of five and nine of the last 12 meetings with Miami, which had won three in a row in south Florida until a 110-80 loss last March 14 from AmericanAirlines Arena.