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Wade, Heat aim to snap three-game skid

Dec 6, 2007 - 2:16 PM Miami (4-13) at Portland (6-12) 10:30 pm EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Dwyane Wade and the struggling Miami Heat aim to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

Unfortunately for Miami, the return of Wade has not been the boost everyone thought it would be.

The Heat, who started out 1-6 without the three-time All-Star, are just 3-7 with him back in the lineup. The 2006 Finals MVP, Wade missed all of the preseason while recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries, and has not played up to his standards thus far.

The 25-year-old is averaging 20.0 points and 5.4 assists, a considerable drop off from his averages of 27.4 points and 7.5 assists a year ago. Consequently, Miami has struggled and currently has the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

But things should get easier against Portland considering the Heat have won five straight meetings between the teams. Furthermore, Wade has scored at least 30 points in each of the last three meetings with Portland.

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are coming off a 106-105 win over Memphis in which Travis Outlaw banked home the game-winner at the buzzer.

Portland, which has not beaten Miami since November 23, 2004, has lost three of four here.