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Heat aim for third straight win against Pistons

Nov 30, 2006 - 1:11 PM Detroit (9-5) at Miami (6-8) 8:00 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) - Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat have had success recently against two of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. On Thursday, they will take on one of the best.

Riding a two-game winning streak, the Heat will host the Detroit Pistons in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference finals.

Wade had 33 points and 13 assists and four other players scored in double figures as Miami posted a 103-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Udonis Haslem had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Alonzo Mourning added 14 and seven blocks for the Heat, who shot a season-best 59 percent (37-of-63) and have won two straight after losing six of seven.

Two days earlier, Miami defeated the lowly Charlotte Bobcats. But on Thursday, they will face the Pistons, whom they eliminated in six games en route to their first NBA title.

Detroit is the team that has been playing like a championship squad of late. On Saturday, Chauncey Billups had 29 points and seven assists and Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points as the Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards, 115-111, for their sixth straight victory.

Detroit has scored at least 100 points in each game of their winning streak.

This will be the first meeting of the season between the squads.