--F Quentin Richardson was held out of a fourth consecutive game Friday night, despite being declared fit to return by coach Erik Spoelstra. Richardson, who has been sidelined by back spasms, worked out with the team's coaching staff on Thursday, his first extended time on the court since landing in pain last week against Atlanta. "He did a lot of court work," Spoelstra said. "He's ready to go. He's been cleared."
Spoelstra, however, opted to hold out Richardson due to the lack of scrimmaging since sustaining his injury. Spoelstra is hopeful that such a session Saturday will have Richardson ready for Sunday's game against the visiting Celtics.
"He hasn't done any full contact in about a week," Spoelstra said.
Richardson was almost activated due to the uncertain status of center Jermaine O'Neal, who did not return to Miami until just before Friday night's game against the Wizards. O'Neal had been with a seriously ill relative. O'Neal nonetheless closed with 19 points and 13 rebounds in 40 minutes against the Wizards.
--While Michael Beasley's put-back dunk off an errant Dwyane Wade jumper with 1.6 seconds to play closed out the scoring in Wednesday's one-point victory in Orlando, the debate continues over whether the shot was an offensive goaltend.
"We thought it was," Magic center Dwight Howard said. "We can't do anything about it now."
The fact that Wade's 15-footer was so off caught the Magic flat-footed.
"You're looking up at the ball, trying to figure out if it's going to hit the rim or not," Orlando guard Vince Carter said, "but you never think the shot is going to be short and be an airball. Not with D-Wade."
--Coach Erik Spoelstra said he took no umbrage with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, when the TNT broadcast crew also contended Thursday that Beasley's game-winning dunk should not have counted because of offensive interference.
"I'm on to the next game," Spoelstra said. "It's just part of sports, debating and having to choose sides."
Spoelstra said ESPN's Hubie Brown told him he thought Beasley's follow of Wade's miss was a legal play.
"It could have been debatable from the ones (replays) that we saw," Spoelstra acknowledged.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm going to take a look at everything from this year. We have to break him free and get him some better opportunities where he can get to the rim, get to the free-throw line, and get him a little bit more space." -- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, on Dwyane Wade's inability to get into the lane in recent games.
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