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The parts are starting to become interchangeable. The lineups are different, yet the results are mostly always the same for the Miami Heat. They played again without a starter, but it didn’t matter in Saturday night’s 110-94 victory against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center.
This time, it was forward Rashard Lewis making his way into the act. He scored a season-high 18 points while replacing Shane Battier, who sat with a sore hamstring. Guard Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each had 20 points to lead the Heat.
“That’s part of the depth that we talked about,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s not easy to have those type of guys on your bench who aren’t necessarily playing on a night-to-night basis but keeping themselves ready. But when you need them, they step in and they can perform.”
It was just Lewis’ second start of the season. Battier’s demeanour on the bench was a reflection of how his replacement was playing. He sat on the bench next to Greg Oden, at times making jokes across the media table with fellow Duke alum Grant Hill.
There was no need to worry about his absence because of Lewis. He came within a point of matching his career-high with the Heat, set twice last season. Lewis opened strong by scoring 10 first-quarter points, making up for a slow start by forward LeBron James.
The performance was even more special because Lewis played for the Magic from 2007-11.
“It’s always good to come back and play in this building,” Lewis said. “Just being in the city alone kind of brings back memories. (Friday) I went to Ruth’s Chris in Winter Park where I used to live, it brings back a lot of memories of when I played here. It’s always fun, especially when you get fans saying that we miss you.”
Not that James was needed much, with Lewis, Wade and Bosh all playing solid.
“It was big for us,” Wade said of Lewis’ production. “That’s what needed. With (Battier) being out, coach could have went many different directions and he gave Rashard the nod. He came in and played great. He was very aggressive ... He makes shots, that’s what he’s always done.”
There was talk of Wade, who also had six rebounds and four assists, sitting after he was ruled a game-time decision. Once it became official he would suit up, Wade looked fresh enough to play in his first-back-to-back since mid-November. He will make that decision sometime before Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
If Saturday was any indication, there is a strong chance Wade could be in the lineup against the streaking Raptors, who have won five straight and sit atop the Atlantic Division.
“I felt pretty good,” Wade said. “Like I said, I got a great workout in (Friday) when I got in. I got some rest and I came out picking my spots. I didn’t try to do too much tonight. I wish I could have a couple shots back that I had, but I’m picking my spots. I’m trying to be efficient.”
Bosh continued his recent string of efficiency by going 9 of 9 from the field. He has now shot at least 50 per cent from the field in 11 of the last 12 games.
“CB is our rock and it’s not just the offensive end,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the part that always disappoints me is he’s doing it on both ends. He’s a two-way player. He’s dynamic. He’s unique.”
The Magic made it interesting for a half before the Heat took control midway through the third quarter. A Jameer Nelson 3-pointer gave Orlando a 55-52 lead with 8:47 remaining, almost serving as an alarm for Miami.
A basket by James, who finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, was the start of the decisive 21-4 run. Guard Mario Chalmers capped it with a driving layup that made it 73-59.
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