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Wade looks to get Heat over .500 against Jazz

Dec 3, 2008 - 2:43 PM Miami (9-9) at Utah (12-7), 9:00 pm EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz aren't sure whether Deron Williams will be available for Wednesday night's showdown against the Miami Heat. But with the way Dwyane Wade has torched them in the past, they better hope he will be.

Williams, who has been hobbled since the preseason with a second-degree sprain of his left ankle, has provided a spark for the Jazz since returning to the floor last week. However, he is expected to be limited in the event of a back-to-back. Utah defeated Sacramento on the road on Tuesday before flying back here for Wednesday's ballgame.

The fourth-year point guard already played both ends of the team's most recent back-to-back but struggled on the back end, a 105-88 loss to the New Jersey Nets. He also acknowledged after the game that the ankle was in some pain.

The Jazz have limited Williams' minutes since his return but his status against Miami remains unclear.

For Wade, it might not matter. The Miami superstar has had his way with the Jazz throughout his career, averaging 28.4 points on 54 percent shooting in eight career meetings. Not coincidentally, the Heat have won eight of their last nine against the Jazz.

Last season in Miami, Wade hit a buzzer-beater to lift the Heat to a 104-102 victory over Utah.

The Heat has had an up-and-down season, never winning or losing more than two in a row. They outlasted the Golden State Warriors in a 130-129 shootout Monday behind Wade's 37 points and 13 assists.