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Heat prepare for life without Mourning

Dec 20, 2007 - 2:23 PM New Jersey (10-15) at Miami (7-18) 7:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- In a season that is quickly spiraling downward, the Miami Heat may have to play the rest of their schedule without their emotional leader.

The Heat try to recover from the loss of Alonzo Mourning when they host the New Jersey Nets on Thursday.

Dwyane Wade scored a season-high 36 points in Wednesday's 117-111 overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks. A bigger loss may have come in the first quarter, when Miami lost Mourning indefinitely to a torn patella tendon in his right knee.

Given the Heat's rocky start and a typical three-month recovery period for Mourning's injury, he may have played the last game of his career after announcing over the summer that he would retire following the end of this season.

The Nets suffered their second straight loss Tuesday, a 106-101 home setback to the Sacramento Kings.

Even though Richard Jefferson scored 36 points and rookie Sean Williams blocked eight shots, New Jersey was unable to avoid its sixth defeat in its last seven games.

The Nets are a season-worst five games below .500.