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Heat look to end nine-game losing streak

Jan 11, 2008 - 2:04 PM Miami (8-28) at New Orleans (23-12) 8:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - The Miami Heat look to end a nine-game losing streak when they finish a five-game road trip at the New Orleans Hornets on Friday.

Two seasons removed from their first NBA Championship in franchise history, the Heat have the worst record in the Eastern Conference this season and are on its longest losing streak since dropping 12 straight early in the 2001-02 campaign.

Dwyane Wade leads the team in scoring at 26.0 points per game, but the Heat are just 4-13 when he scores 25 or more. Shaquille O'Neal has missed the last seven games with hip bursitis and is expected to miss this contest as well.

The Hornets have won eight of their last 10 but are coming off an embarrassing 109-80 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Chris Paul had his four-game double-double streak broken up, recording five assists to go along with 32 points in Wednesday's loss.

New Orleans boasts the Western Conference's best road record but are just 9-7 on at home.

This is the first meeting between the two teams this season.