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Wade, Redd face off as Heat look to get on track

Jan 14, 2009 - 11:25 AM Miami (20-17) at Milwaukee (19-21) 8:00 p.m. EST

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- It's never good news for the Miami Heat when Dwyane Wade can't find his shot. That was precisely the case the last time the Heat met up with the Milwaukee Bucks, and the result was the team's third straight loss.

The Heat will try to return the favor on Wednesday night as they continue their seven-game road trip with a meeting in Milwaukee.

Wade, the league's leading scorer, went just 5-of-16 for 15 points in a December 15 loss to Milwaukee - but his Olympic teammate, Michael Redd, took advantage of Miami's offensive void. The All-Star guard scored 16 of his 21 points in the first quarter to stake Milwaukee to a big lead en route to the 98-83 victory.

Redd has been playing his best ball of the season over the last 2 1/2 weeks. In nine games in that span, he is averaging 25.9 points on 52 percent shooting (83-of-161). However, the Bucks have struggled to find consistency during the stretch, alternating wins and losses for 10 consecutive contests to remain two games under the .500 mark.

The Heat, meanwhile, have had a rough start to 2009. They lost four of six before eking out a 99-96 victory over the 11-win Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Wade went for 31 points and eight assists to lead the way.