It's only fitting that the Trail Blazers would play the reigning NBA Champions the day after one of the biggest nights in recent memory for Pacific Northwest sports...

The Trail Blazers knocked off the Sacramento Kings in over-time...

The Washington State Cougars, a surprisingly dangerous team climbing the ranks of college hoops, defeated #7 Arizona...

The Ducks pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year by ending UCLA's unbeaten streak at 14 games...

And then there was a football game. The Seattle Seahawks, Portland's surrogate NFL franchise, played the Dallas Cowboys down to the wire and then hung on to advance out of the first round of the NFL playoffs...

It was without a doubt an exciting night to be a Pacific Northwest sports fan, and tonight should be no different as the Trail Blazers look extend Miami's 5 game slide. Lineups are being introduced and the game is set to get underway.

Miami will be without Shaq, Antoine Walker, and James Posey, who are all inactive for tonight's contest. Walker and Posey failed to meet team conditioning requirements, and Shaquille O'Neal- Portland's Public Enemy #1- has been sidelined due to injury.

As long as Dwayne Wade is on the floor, however, the Heat remain one of the NBA's toughest teams. Wade should get some help from point guard and former Northwest native Gary Payton, who will back up Jason Williams, and center Alonzo Mourning, who continues to patrol the paint in Shaq's absence.

No surprises for the Trail Blazers starting lineup. It's Jack, R.O.Y., Ime, ZeBo, and The Thrilla to begin the first quarter. Dan Dickau is also ready to come off the bench for the Trail Blazers. Dickau was activated after Travis Outlaw went down with an ankle injury.

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