MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia 76ers face their biggest test since losing Allen Iverson to a broken thumb when they shoot for their season-high fourth straight win against the first-place Miami Heat.

	SEASON SERIES
	Nov. 17 Dec. 1 Mar. 16 Apr. 10	Miami 98, at Philadelphia 93 Philadelphia at Miami, 7:30pm ET Philadelphia at Miami, 7:30pm ET Miami at Philadelphia, 7:00pm ET

Larry Hughes scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and the 76ers held on for a 74-70 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday, improving to 3-1 without the NBA's leading scorer. Iverson is not due back for at least another three weeks, but has been cheering on his teammates from the bench.

"We discovered that we have a team here," Hughes said. "We care for each other, both on and off the court. And we know what we have to do to win."

Philadelphia has not won four in a row since a five-game run from April 19-27 during the lockout-shortened season. The Sixers have a tough task in front of them tonight.

Miami also is shooting for its fourth straight win and is coming off a 98-88 victory over Sacramento on Monday in a battle of conference leaders. The Heat improved to 11-3, matching the best start in franchise history.

Miami has also had to overcome an injury to a key player and have won three straight without starting point guard Tim Hardway, who is nursing a strained right knee.

"We need Tim back," said Jamal Mashburn, who scored 22 points against the Kings. "He is our catalyst and one of the most important players on the team from the standpoint of knowing how to run the offense. You can't replace a guy like that."

These teams met on November 17 in Philadelphia and Alonzo Mourning had 27 points and 14 rebounds as the Heat ended the Sixers' 10-game home winning streak with a 98-93 victory.

Miami has won nine of the last 11 meetings with Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA 10-game log	MIAMI 10-game log
Nov. 20 Nov. 22 Nov. 24 Nov. 26 Nov. 27 Nov. 30 Dec. 1 Dec. 3 Dec. 4 Dec. 6 @ New Jersey San Antonio Washington Cleveland @ Milwaukee New York @ Miami @ Cleveland Boston Denver W 100-96 L 91-94 L 93-101 W 106-83 W 82-79 W 74-70	Nov. 17 Nov. 20 Nov. 23 Nov. 24 Nov. 27 Nov. 29 Dec. 1 Dec. 3 Dec. 6 Dec. 7 @ Philadelphia Boston @ Atlanta Atlanta Washington Sacramento Philadelphia @ Boston @ LA Clippers @ Portland W 98-93 W 110-92 L 106-113 W 93-91 W 89-86 W 98-88