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Heat, Bucks both try to break losing streaks

Jan 2, 2008 - 2:18 PM Milwaukee (11-19) at Miami (8-23) 7:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- A pair of struggling teams meet Wednesday as the Miami Heat host the Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams enter this contest looking to snap four-game losing streaks.

Miami began the season without superstar Dwyane Wade and went 1-6 in his absence. Now that Wade is rounding into playing shape, center Alonzo Mourning has been lost for the season with a torn patellar tendon and Shaquille O'Neal has missed the last two games with a hip injury.

Wade's 48-point effort was not enough in an overtime loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday. He managed just 12 points in Saturday's 96-74 loss to the Washington Wizards.

The Bucks have suffered from a lack of defensive intensity this season, relying on big men such as Charlie Villanueva, Yi Jianlian and Andrew Bogut, who prefer to play facing the basket.

Milwaukee suffered an embarrassing 114-69 loss at Detroit on Monday in which it shot just 36 percent (26-of-72) while allowing the Pistons to shoot 58 percent (45-of-77). The Bucks also committed 21 turnovers.