When/where: 8 p.m., AmericanAirlines Arena.

Tickets: 2,500 remain (balcony seats closed).

Broadcast: TV -- SUN. Radio -- WIOD (610-AM), WACC (830 AM).

About the Heat: Immersed in its longest losing streak since 1995-96 and its worst start since 1994-95, the 2-7 Heat again is shorthanded up front with C Alonzo Mourning (virus) and PF Brian Grant (bone bruise on right instep) out indefinitely. The Heat hasn't lost six in a row since the 1993-94 season under coach Alvin Gentry, and a loss tonight would drop Miami to 2-8, its worst start since its inaugural 1988-89 team lost its first 17. With the Timberwolves starting a front line in which no one is under 6 feet 10, expect Riley to start 7-1 Vladimir Stepania, who had 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks Friday against Charlotte. Backup center Sean Marks is still weak from the flu but will play. Chris Gatling will return to his sixth-man role, and PG Rod Strickland (hamstring) will play after missing the past three games. F LaPhonso Ellis, who played for the Wolves last season in a sixth-man role, most likely will start along with guards Eddie Jones and Anthony Carter.

About the Timberwolves: Off to their best start (8-1) in franchise history, the Timberwolves are ranked first in field-goal percentage (48 percent) and scoring (104.3 points a game), while the Heat is ranked 28th in scoring (82.5). Coach Flip Saunders relies on his long front line of 7-0 C Rasho Nesterovic, 6-10 PF Joe Smith and SF 6-11 Kevin Garnett to pick up anyone who breaks through its tenacious 3-2 or 2-2-1 zone. The offense begins with underrated PG Terrell Brandon, who leads the NBA with a 7.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. With Garnett (22.9 ppg., 12 rpg) shifting from power to small forward, that enabled hot shooting (53 percent) Wally Szczerbiak to move from small forward to shooting guard, which creates plenty of matchup problems at both spots. It's possible that rookie Tang Hamilton will return to Riley's rotation, simply because of his long arms and tenacious defense.

Off the court: Free tickets to military personnel from the tri-county area.