James, Wade, Chalmers out for Heat against Spurs

SAN ANTONIO (AP) a LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers all sat out the Miami Heat's game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night. James blocked his appropriate hamstring in the first 1 / 2 of Friday's 108-89 triumph at New Orleans, according to the Heat. He continued to play despite the injury, nevertheless, scoring 36 points in 32 minutes ahead of sitting out late in the blowout success. Wade hurt his right ankle in Miami's 101-97 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday evening, which broke the Heat's 27-game winning streak. Wade had 17 points and seven helps in 33 minutes Friday against New Orleans. James and Wade were surprise late scores while Chalmers did not perform Friday in New Orleans and was detailed as day-to-day with a sprained right ankle. Miami (57-15) started the day with a lead over the Spurs (55-17) for the league's best report and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. A gain would essentially provide Miami, which won the groups' other meeting early in the day this season, a four-game pillow with nine remaining, considering that the Warmth also would get a handle on any potential head-to-head tiebreaker with San Antonio. The battle for home-court advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs can develop into a rapid, down-to-the-wire deal, if heat lose. None of the three injured players were on the counter for the very first half Sunday. Their shortage rekindled the controversy surrounding San Antonio instructor Gregg Popovich's determination to send Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green house instead of having them perform the next game of a back-to-back Nov. 19 in Miami. It absolutely was the climax of a road trip, concluding with four games in five days. The Spurs didn't supply the NBA or Miami previous notice of the participants' absences, which led the NBA to fine San Antonio $250,000. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was questioned if San Antonio's decision to stay their stars in Miami had a direct effect on his decision to rest his stars for this game. "I may observe how you men could draw that conclusion, but no," Spoelstra said prior to the game. Unlike Popovich, Spoelstra outlined injuries because the reason behind his stars' shortage, that will likely get rid of the possibility of the group fining Miami. Popovich responded in mock horror when informed James, Wade and Chalmers were out. "Are you joking me?," Popovich said in mock astonishment. "Who could think about something similar to that? That is below the belt. There's no place for that."