Heat-76ers: All-Star MVP Dwyane Wade Heading Back To Work in Philly

PHILADELPHIA—Fresh off his MVP Award at the All-Star Game, Dwyane Wade won’t have much time to relax. In fact, he won’t have any.

The Heat (26-27) regrouped on Monday in Philadelphia to prepare for Tuesday’s game against the 76ers (20-32) at the Wachovia Center. The contest will begin a tough, four-game road trip during the next five days for Miami.

Luckily for Wade, the drop-off from his All-Star supporting cast won’t be as drastic as it looked a week ago.

A season-worst five-game losing streak had Wade calling out his Heat teammates and coaches for scoring lulls in his absence and a predictable, lackluster offense that opponents stopped regularly. They seemed to get the idea.

Miami blew out its last two opponents before the All-Star break to grab a virtual tie with the Chicago Bulls (25-26) for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. With a 99-66 blowout against Houston and an impressive 94-76 win at Atlanta, Miami got a combined 93 points off its bench, needing only 17- and 18-point games from Wade in the victories.

The Heat will look to continue that trend against the 76ers, who despite their troubles at home this season have won six straight against Miami at the Wachovia Center and 16 of the last 18 contests there.

After a season-best five-game win streak in which they averaged 102.2 points per game, the 76ers lost 104-93 to the Toronto Raptors to head into the break.

Elton Brand was upset after the game and commented on his lack of playing time when the team went small to open the second half; a single-digit deficit turned into an insurmountable one. Brand will look to rebound from his 11-point performance in the loss.

Allen Iverson is aiming to return to the court for tomorrow night's contest. He practiced with the team Monday, although it is unknown how much playing time the 13-year veteran will see. Iverson missed the 76ers' last five games to attend to his daughter, who has been sick with an undisclosed illness.