ORLANDO, FLA. (AP) - Heat guard Dwyane Wade missed most of the third quarter of Miami’s game against Orlando with a lower back bruise he got taking a hard foul from Magic center Dwight Howard.
He returned to start the fourth quarter.
Wade was driving to the basket with 9:43 left in the third quarter of Thursday’s matchup of Southeast Division rivals when the collision happened. Howard attempted to block Wade’s shot and fouled the seven-time All-Star, who remained down for about a minute.
After a time-out, the Heat players _ even those who were on the bench _ went out to check on Wade, who was face-down on the court. He eventually walked gingerly to the bench and remained in the game to shoot two free throws, giving him the option of returning later.
Had he not taken the free throws, he would have been out for the rest of the game under NBA rules.
Miami took an immediate foul after Wade made the free throws, and he immediately went to the Heat locker room for evaluation. He returned with a wrap around his back at the end of the period, and was moving without apparent difficulty when he re-entered the game.
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