Rockets vs. Heat According to the Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/basketball/16753683.htm

ROCKETS 112, HEAT 102
Heat lose Wade in loss to Rockets
Dwyane Wade left the Heat's game writhing in pain in the fourth quarter of the Rockets' victory, a bitter turn of events in Pat Riley's return to the bench.

A BIG LOSS: The Heat's Dwyane Wade, wincing in severe pain, left Wednesday night's game against the Rockets in a wheelchair with his left arm propped up.
AP PHOTO

HOUSTON - With one swift swipe of Dwyane Wade's left arm, Pat Riley's return to the bench became a devastating experience.

Wade left Wednesday's game against the Rockets wincing in severe pain in a wheelchair, his left arm propped up.

The Heat lost the game 112-102, but it has probably lost a whole lot more with Wade likely sustaining what was initially called a dislocated left shoulder, which could keep Wade out for a period of about six weeks.

With about 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a game the Heat had trailed for almost the entire way, Wade reached in on a driving Shane Battier with his left hand.

Battier's momentum forced Wade's left arm back, and Wade immediately grabbed the arm and walked to the bench hunched over. Wade had bruised his left shoulder during the Heat's home victory against Portland on Feb. 13, the Heat's last game before the All-Star break, and he had told teammates privately that it was bothering him Wednesday. It's unclear, however, whether that made Wade more vulnerable to a dislocation.

After Heat trainer Ron Culp tended to Wade on the bench for several minutes, a Rockets employee emerged from one of the tunnels with a wheelchair for Wade, who needed help even getting into the chair. Wade was in so much pain while on the bench, he was forced to tears.

It was a gruesome ending to what already had been a difficult experience for the Heat and Riley, who returned to the bench after taking a medical leave of absence and missing 22 games.

''Obviously we're disappointed about the loss but more disappointed about Dwyane,'' Riley said. ``We're really concerned about him. The initial word is that it's dislocated. We'll have to find out more.''

CLOSING THE GAP

With Wade in the game, the Heat was still behind for most of the way by double digits. Wade scored 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter to help the Heat temporarily close the gap to seven points, but the quarter ended in demoralizing fashion.

After Chuck Hayes split two free throws, Wade missed a 19-foot jumper with 3.9 seconds remaining.

That left just enough time for Bonzi Wells to snatch the rebound, dribble and launch a 65-foot heave (he was inside his own three-point line when it was released) that went through as the buzzer sounded. It extended the Rockets' lead to 89-75 entering the final quarter.

The Heat made a quick recovery, scoring the first five points of the fourth to again close its deficit to nine points. But it was soon after that an apparently simple defensive sequence turned devastating.

''Not again,'' Mourning said when asked his reaction to Wade's injury. ``We just now got everybody together and this happens again. I don't know what it is. Obviously, injuries are a part of this game, but it seems like this year we've been behind the eight ball when it comes to injuries.''

Heat players tried to shake off Wade's injury and attempt a late comeback. Shaquille O'Neal, who finished with 20 points while making 9 of 15 shots, was aggressive after Wade went out, scoring eight in the final quarter. But the Heat still fell short, and now likely will have to spend several weeks without their leading scorer.

''We just have to keep fighting through it,'' O'Neal said. ``We've been through a lot this season. Everybody has to step their game up. We can't get back into a hole like we did right before the All-Star break. I'm getting my legs back and coach is calling my play.''

PAST INJURIES

In his first season with Miami, Eddie Jones missed 15 games after dislocating his left shoulder on March 7, 2001. Jones said he had to strengthen his shoulder before returning, and then had offseason surgery to repair the joint.

Jones said when he initially returned in April 2001, he still felt his shoulder was weak.

''Hopefully his is not that bad,'' Jones said.

Riley didn't look like he was in any mood to make motivational speeches after Wednesday's game, but he might have to do some of his best coaching to keep the Heat in good shape for its final 29-game playoff push.

''We just have to stay the course,'' said Riley, whose team is 26-27 and sitting in the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. ``If we can get Shaquille to play like he played tonight, real aggressive, this is the way it may have to turn out, I don't know. We have had a lot of adversity this year. Things haven't gone right from the get go. You just have to stay the course. You don't know how this whole thing is going to play out.''