76ers 91 - 97 Heat
Final
  for this game

O'Neal eyes first win with Heat

Feb 21, 2009 - 2:07 PM Philadelphia (27-26) at Miami (28-25) 3:30 p.m. EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Jermaine O'Neal's debut with the Miami Heat did not go as planned.

O'Neal looks to earn his first win as a member of the Heat when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

Miami made a splash on the trade front February 13, dealing forward Shawn Marion, point guard Marcus Banks and cash to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for O'Neal and Jamario Moon.

The Heat also received a conditional first-round pick from the Raptors in 2010, unless Toronto is in the lottery. In that case, the first-round selection could come between 2011 and 2015.

The 6-11 O'Neal averaged 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in an injury-plagued first season with the Raptors. However, he had started to come around this month, scoring at least 20 points in four of seven games in February before the trade.

The veteran forward had only 13 points and one rebound in his first game with the Heat, who opened the second half of the campaign with a 111-104 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

O'Neal may have an easier time against the 76ers, who are without big man Elton Brand for the rest of the season and are coming off back-to-back losses, including a 101-89 setback to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.






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