|
 Wade said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra made the decision, after
consulting with the team's training staff. Wade and Spoelstra have
both said they will be in regular communication about his status,
mindful of what he's gone through with his knees in recent seasons.
"It's a slow climb," Wade said.
Wade also missed the second game of the season in Philadelphia,
which was the second game of a back-to-back. Wade missed six of his
seven shots and scored only four points on the second night of a
back-to-back at Charlotte on Saturday.
Tuesday's game started another two-game, two-night swing for Miami.
Wade will be with the Heat in Orlando for their game Wednesday
night, though Spoelstra said no decision has been made about his availability.
Wade is averaging 16.7 points this season for Miami.
"Still big picture," Spoelstra said. "We want to be proactive."
[to top of second column] |
Wade said he's not a "percentage guy" as far as
gauging where he's at physically, then said he feels like he's
around 75 percent on good days now.
"Just trying to get consistent as much as possible and as time
goes on, hopefully the treatment I got this summer will start to
take over a little bit more and some of the discomfort I have
will go away a little more," Wade said.
James Jones started for Wade. It was Jones' first start since
April 22, 2012, and just the 26th in 248 appearances with the
Heat. It also marked the sixth different starting lineup Miami
has used in 11 games this season.
"We don't ever want it to seem usual," Heat star and four-time
NBA MVP LeBron James said. "We want guys in the lineup but
health is number one for our team, for sure. Like I continue to
state, the best thing about it is when guys go down we've got
depth and guys who can step in and play a starting role."
Atlanta was without forward Paul Millsap, who was not with the
team in Miami because of right elbow tendinitis. Gustavo Ayon
started in his place, the second time that's happened this
season for the Hawks.
[Associated
Press; TIM REYNOLDS, AP Basketball Writer]
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