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Heat aims to snap eight-game slide

Feb 14, 2008 - 11:48 AM Miami (9-41) at Chicago (20-31) 8:00 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The reeling Miami Heat will try to avoid their ninth consecutive loss when they meet the injury-riddled Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Miami was within striking distance of ending its current slide, but All-Star Dwyane Wade's jumper fell short in Tuesday's 114-113 overtime setback to the Denver Nuggets.

Newly acquired forward Shawn Marion, who came over from Phoenix as part of a three-man trade for Shaquille O'Neal last week, has lived up to the hype in both games for the Heat. The 6-8 Marion is averaging 19.0 points and 16.0 rebounds.

In the first meeting, Ben Gordon scored 24 points to lead four others in double figures as Chicago rolled to a 126-96 victory in South Beach on January 16.

With Gordon (wrist) and Luol Deng (left Achilles) both out due to various injuries, Chicago dropped its second straight outing with Tuesday's 100-87 decision to the New Orleans Hornets.

"Obviously we would like to come out with a better effort in the third, we were right there in the fourth quarter and we kind of got our butts kick in the fourth quarter," said Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, who returned after missing three games.

Second-year swingman Thabo Sefolosha is making the most of his playing opportunity due to all of Chicago's injuries, averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a starter.