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Wade, Heat aim to end 12-game skid

Jan 19, 2008 - 3:59 PM New York (12-27) at Miami (8-30) 7:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) - Dwyane Wade and the reeling Miami Heat hope to end their season-high 12-game losing streak on Saturday when they host the New York Knicks in a battle of the Eastern Conference's two worst teams.

Wade scored 20 of his 37 points in the third quarter on Friday but it wasn't enough as Miami continued its losing ways with a 98-91 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers.

"We just couldn't sustain what we did in the third quarter," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "That was as well as we played in a long time from a defensive standpoint. Then. in the fourth quarter we just began to miss shots."

Saddled with its longest losing streak since 2001, Miami has not won in nearly a month, dating to a 104-102 victory over Utah on December 22.

The Heat won their first game against New York this season, 75-72, on November 11, led by Udonis Haslem, who recorded 16 points and 16 rebounds.

The Knicks had their season-high three-game winning streak snapped with Friday's 111-98 loss to the Washington Wizards.

Quentin Richardson scored 21 points and Jamal Crawford added 19 for New York, which won three of four against Miami last season.