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Heat look to avoid yet another loss vs. Pacers

Jan 26, 2008 - 3:00 PM Indiana (19-25) at Miami (8-33) 3:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) - The Miami Heat will look to avoid a 16th straight setback when they host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Two losses shy of tying the franchise record for futility, Miami is dropping not only games, but personnel - with All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal the latest to hit the injury report.

O'Neal, whose career-low 14.2 points per game average has him on the verge of missing out on the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in 14 seasons, has missed nine games already this season with hip and leg ailments, and is currently sidelined for an indefinite amount of time.

Dwyane Wade has been charged with shouldering the offensive and defensive load, and his surgically-repaired shoulder and knee have not been up to the challenge every night. Wade, who was voted as a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season, is averaging 25 points, but he has been unable to deliver wins by himself.

The Pacers will be without their own O'Neal - Jermaine - on Saturday. The veteran forward has missed the last four games with a bruised left knee and is out indefinitely.

Indiana has dropped its last two games, including a 104-92 setback at Milwaukee on Thursday. Mike Dunleavy led the way with 22 points while Travis Diener dished out nine assists in a career-high 40 minutes of playing time.

The Pacers have taken both games between the teams this season, squeezing out an 87-85 victory on November 2 and winning another close one, 106-103, on December 15.