Center Alonzo Mourning, who missed seven games earlier this season because of two bouts with a virus, missed Monday's practice because of the flu but is expected to play tonight against Phoenix, Heat coach Pat Riley said.

''Three or four times this year, he was sort of not feeling well, but he'll play,'' Riley said. ``He's a little sick, that's all.''

In November, Mourning missed two games, then played in two, then missed three more because of a virus that was originally thought to be food poisoning. He missed two games with the flu in late January. In both instances, Mourning's production in his first game back wasn't up to his usual standards.

Mourning's kidney disease and the medication for that ailment make him more vulnerable to illness.

? The Heat (28-33) will enter tonight 1 ? games behind Charlotte for the eighth playoff seed and two games behind No. 7 Indiana.

The Hornets complete a four-game Western swing Tuesday at the Lakers, then return to play 11 of their final 19 at home, where they're just 12-18.

The Heat has two games remaining against both Indiana and Charlotte.

''You do get pumped up'' being so close to the eighth seed, forward Brian Grant said. ``We can control our own destiny.''

And if the Heat makes it? ''We're going to be the toughest seventh or eighth seed there is,'' forward Jim Jackson said. ``There isn't any one or two seed we can't beat.''