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Reeling Heat visit 76ers

Feb 7, 2008 - 2:46 PM Miami (9-38) at Philadelphia (19-30) 7:00 pm EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - With the Shaquille O'Neal era behind them, the Miami Heat try to start anew on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Miami on Wednesday, just two seasons removed from the NBA title, traded O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for high-flying forward Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

"I'm not shocked by anything that happens in the NBA, but I wasn't expecting this," Heat All-Star Dwyane Wade said. "You don't see a guy like Shaquille O'Neal getting traded very often."

Miami coach Pat Riley concurred.

"It was big when we got Shaquille and when we won a title with him, and it's a significant day to lose him," Riley said. "It was just a move we felt we had to make."

Marion and Banks both are questionable for Miami, which owns the worst record in the league and has just one win since December 25.

Perhaps with the departure of O'Neal still on their mind Wednesday, the Heat suffered a 100-95 setback to the Detroit Pistons, despite 30 points and 12 boards by Wade.

Andre Iguodala poured in 20 points to lead a balanced attack as the Sixers opened their six-game homestand on a positive note with Wednesday's 101-96 win over the Washington Wizards.

In their first meeting, Iguodala netted 28 points to upstage Wade's 27-point performance in Philadelphia's 96-85 victory on December 26.