Playing his first season after sitting out last year because of microfracture surgery on his knee, Oden will now match up with undersized Heat center
Udonis Haslem.
Haslem, who is 6-foot-8, had a tough time Monday night against 7-6
Yao Ming, who had 28 points and 12 rebounds as Miami (7-7) lost 107-98 to Houston.
The Heat lost despite getting 23 points from star guard
Dwyane Wade, who is averaging 33.7 in his last three games. Wade had one of his best games of the season against Portland, finishing with 36 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Wade has topped the 30-point mark in five of his last six games versus the Blazers. He’ll be contending with Portland’s
Brandon Roy in a matchup of two of the NBA’s top young shooting guards.
Roy scored a season-high 28 points against Sacramento after scoring 26 in a 102-92 loss at Phoenix two days earlier. He had 22 points and five rebounds in this season’s first matchup with the Heat.
Miami forward
Shawn Marion missed that game due to a left groin strain, and he’ll miss this contest to attend a family funeral in Arkansas on Wednesday afternoon. He said even a private flight wouldn’t get him to Portland in time.
