MIAMI - Dwyane Wade came off the bench for the first time in more than six years. The Larry O’Brien Trophy wasn’t at stake. Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich sported a casual, no-tie look.
An NBA Finals rematch, yes. An NBA Finals replay, it was not.
Either way, it still wound up going how the Miami Heat wanted.
Chris Bosh scored 24 points on 9 for 10 shooting - making him 17 for his last 18 from the floor - and LeBron James added 18 points as the Heat rolled past the San Antonio Spurs 113-101 on Sunday, never trailing and leading by as many as 29 points along the way.
Mario Chalmers scored 16 points for Miami, which used Wade as a reserve for the first time since Jan. 6, 2008. Wade - an All-Star starter again this season - had not played in any of Miami’s most recent four games while dealing with ongoing knee rehabilitation, and finished with 8 points and 5 assists in 24 minutes.
Michael Beasley scored 12, Norris Cole scored 11 and Ray Allen added 10 for Miami (32-12). Spoelstra said afterward that nothing is set in stone about Wade’s status going forward.
“It was just good to have him out there,” said Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 23 points. Boris Diaw added 15, Marco Belinelli scored 12 and Tony Parker finished with 11 for the Spurs, who were without three players who played key roles in last year’s Finals. Kawhi Leonard (hand), Danny Green (hand) and Tiago Splitter (shoulder) all remain sidelined for San Antonio (33-11).
“Everybody has injuries. You have to deal with them during the season,” said Parker, who jammed a finger Sunday but didn’t seem concerned. “Obviously, it’s hurting us but they’re going to come back. We just have to keep pushing and try to get better.”
Sports, Pages 17 on 01/27/2014