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Wade hopes for more accurate showing when Heat face Grizzlies

Dec 2, 2006 - 4:54 PM Miami (6-9) at Memphis (4-11) 8:00 pm EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Even the reigning Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals can have an off night.

Dwyane Wade looks to overcome a difficult shooting performance for the Miami Heat, who open a four-game road trip Saturday against the struggling Memphis Grizzlies.

After becoming the first player to record three straight games of 30 points and 12 assists since 1989, Wade scored 21 points and had eight assists as the defending- champion Heat lost for the fourth time in six games with Thursday's 87-85 defeat to the Detroit Pistons.

Despite averaging 27.6 points to rank among the team leaders, Wade made just 5-of-23 shots. He missed a potential game-winning 20 foot jumper with 1.2 seconds in Miami's sixth loss in nine home games.

Although Memphis has split its six home contests this season, the Grizzlies have the worst record in the Western Conference and rank 25th in scoring (93.5). They are 3-3 after losing eight of their first nine games.

Hakim Warrick scored 22 points, rookie Rudy Gay added 15 and Chucky Atkins and Dahntay Jones 14 each for Memphis in Wednesday's 105-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Miami won both meetings against the Grizzlies last season and holds a 13-7 lead in the all-time series.