<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">This time, it might be a sprained left ankle that stalls any Heat momentum. Dwyane Wade left the arena after Sunday afternoon's loss to the Mavericks not knowing his status for tonight's game against the Knicks. The ankle he sprained with 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter limited him in the final three quarters against Dallas, and if it feels worse today, Wade might have to sit out his seventh game of the season. ''It's pretty sore,'' Wade said after the game. ``I'll try to go home and ice it and hopefully it feels better [today]. If not, I'll just have to make a decision [today].'' It was the second time in the past seven games that Wade sprained the ankle. He turned it early against the Sonics on Jan. 10, but continued to play and didn't miss a game. But on Sunday, Heat trainer Ron Culp was surprised Wade was even able to return to the game. ''Our trainer said he was shocked that I was able to continue to go,'' Wade said. ``He told me to call it off a couple times. But it's a big game, and I just wanted to go out there and do as much as I can.'' Wade has missed four games because of a sprained right wrist and two games because of oral surgery. If Wade can't play, it's doubtful the Heat will have either of its franchise players, because Shaquille O'Neal is likely to miss at least one more game because of an injured left knee. O'Neal's conditioning still isn't where he wants it to be, and he might need at least one more practice session before he can return, possibly Wednesday in Indiana. O'Neal's teammates, though, say he has been working harder to return from this injury than they've ever seen him. ''He's working very hard. It's not easy,'' Wade said. ``He's not in the physical shape he wants to be in with the physical strength. But he's getting there, so that's the only thing we can be happy about.'' Wade added that O'Neal will likely take time to come back to form after missing more games than he has in his career. ''We're looking forward to it,'' Wade said. ``But at the same time, we're not expecting any miracles. We're not expecting him to come back and be the Shaq he was in '99.''</div> Source
It's unfortunate for the Heat, but I'm pretty sure Wade will play. As for Oneal, what can be said? He's getting older so his body will take longer to heal after "devastating" injuries, he should be back in soon enough.
