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Heat aim to end Bobcats' recent dominance of rivalry

Nov 27, 2007 - 3:11 PM Charlotte (6-7) at Miami (3-10) 7:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Miami Heat have had little success against the Charlotte Bobcats of late.

The Heat hope to avoid losing their fifth straight game to the Bobcats - and their third loss against them this season - when the Southeast Division rivals meet Tuesday.

After Charlotte joined the league in 2004, Miami won nine of the first 10 meetings by an average of 11.6 points.

The Bobcats have returned the favor lately though, taking the last four against the Heat, including a 90-88 win in Miami on November 4 and a 91-76 victory in Charlotte on November 13.

However, the Heat's last two losses against the Bobcats have come without Miami's leading scorer in the lineup, Dwyane Wade.

Playing his sixth game this season after offseason knee and shoulder surgeries, Wade had a season-high 32 points in Miami's 120-99 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

Wade has logged over 40 minutes in each of his last two games for the first time this season and is averaging 31.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in those games.

Charlotte has dropped three straight away from home by an average of over 17 points per game.