Magic/Heat preview

The MIA Heat (11-52, 6-26 home) are in the midst of one of the most amazing collapses in sports history, from winning the 2006 NBA championship to having the worst record in the NBA less than two years later. The Heat have lost six games in a row and 33 of their last 36 games overall, and are coming off a 91-88 home loss to NY WED. Dwyane Wade has been shut down for the rest of the season. Pat Riley will not coach the game tonight so he can scout the NCAA Big 12 Tourney. Assistant Ron Rothstein will coach the Heat. In addition, Udonis Haslem is questionable with an ankle injury.

The Magic (42-24, 22-12 road) will look to continue to solidify the third playoff spot in the East.

The probable starting lineup for MIA:

G... Jason Williams (8.4 ppg)
G... Daequan Cook (7.5 ppg)
F... Ricky Davis (13.8 ppg)
F... Shawn Marion (15.5 ppg, 10.2 rebs)
C... Mark Blount (8.7 ppg)

Top reserves... Chris Quinn (5.2 ppg); Alexander Johnson (3.9 ppg); Bobby Jones (3.4 ppg)

MIA is averaging 93.7 ppg and allows 101.3 ppg; the Magic average 104.8 ppg and allow 100.2 ppg.

The Magic have not lost to the Heat since FEB of 2006 and have won 8 games in a row against them since then, including 3-0 this season. MIA's last three losses overall have been only by a combined seven pts.

It's not often you see a road team favored by 11 1/2 pts, but that's what the Magic are favored by (www.pinnaclesports.com) in what figures to be a mismatch, at least on paper.