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With Riley back, Heat lose game, Wade

Feb 22, 2007 - 7:38 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Miami Heat got coach Pat Riley back for their game against the Houston Rockets, but suffered a potentially devastating loss.

Dwyane Wade departed with a dislocated left shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter and the Heat had no answer for Tracy McGrady, as the Rockets posted a 112-102 victory.

Wade banged into a driving Shane Battier on a reach in, immediately grimaced in pain and left the game. He left the bench in a wheelchair, headed to a hospital for further tests and will not accompany the team to Dallas.

"Someone said we locked arms. I spun and hit somebody," Battier said. "All we knew was Dwyane was on the sidelines with a shoulder. I didn't know what play it was. Obviously, he's one of the best players in the league."

Wade had 27 points before leaving the game with 9:17 to play.

"Obviously we are disappointed with the loss, but more disappointed with the loss of Dwyane," Riley said. "They took him to the hospital for precautionary measures. He reached in and got his hand caught in there."

The injury to the reigning Finals MVP overshadowed Riley's return to the sidelines after taking a 22-game leave of absence to undergo operations on his knee and hip.

McGrady had 32 points and put the game out of reach with back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter. The second capped a 9-2 run and gave Houston a 103-88 lead with 6:11 to play.

"We passed well to the shooters and spread the floor well," Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "Tracy starting fast is important. That gives us a chance to play with a cushion."

Rafer Alston scored 20 points and Juwan Howard added 15 for the Rockets, who swept the season series with the Heat.

The Rockets have also had their fair share of injuries and are currently without center Yao Ming. McGrady has stepped up in the All-Star center's absence and did so again against Miami, hitting 12-of-24 shots and adding eight assists.

"I'm a big fan of D Wade's and I love watching him play. Hopefully, it's not an injury that will keep him out for a significant amount of time," McGrady said. "Nobody's feeling sorry for us with our big fella out. When Yao went down, everybody wrote us off."

One bit of good news for the Heat was the play of center Shaquille O'Neal, who looked as good as he has all season.

O'Neal scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, a season high. He should be fresh down the stretch run having played only 14 games this season due to knee surgery.

"If we can get Shaq to play the way he did tonight, we will be in pretty good shape," Riley said. "We'll have to find out how long (Wade) will be out and other guys will have to step up."

"We've just got to keep fighting through it," O'Neal said. "We've been through a lot this season. I knew it was pretty serious when he got hit and (his shoulder) popped out of place. I have to be more aggressive and get more looks and keep everyone else involved. Coach is calling my plays and if he keeps calling them, I will deliver."