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O'Neal, Heat look to slow Trail Blazers

Jan 18, 2008 - 3:01 PM Portland (23-15) at Miami (8-29) 7:00 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) - The Portland Trail Blazers are in the midst of a dream season. The Miami Heat are in the middle of a nightmare.

The Heat will look to snap their worst losing streak in six years when they host the Trail Blazers on Friday.

Portland is the surprise team of the NBA this season, leading the Northwest Division despite having the youngest roster in the league. Picked by most people to finish in the lottery again this season, the Blazers had won 18 of 20 games before falling to the powerhouse Boston Celtics, 100-90, on Wednesday.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy has thrust himself among the NBA's best players during Portland's run, averaging 19 points and 5.7 assists per game and drawing consistent double teams on offense.

Roy scored 22 points in Wednesday's loss, but the Blazers failed to stop Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett while turning the ball over 19 times.

Miami - just two seasons removed from an NBA championship - is currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just eight victories. Wednesday's 126-96 home loss to the Chicago Bulls was the 11th in a row for the Heat - their longest string of futility since dropping 12 in a row in 2001.

The Heat did get All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal back from a hip injury on Wednesday, but his 24 points and 10 rebounds were not enough to bring the team a win.

Portland won the first meeting of the season between the teams, 112-106, on December 6. Roy had 25 points and six assists in the victory.