Wade to miss up to 2 weeks

Associated Press

MIAMI

Dwyane Wade was off the court, perfecting the art of taking scoop shots from underneath a side basket and getting them to fall through the net without touching the rim.

That’ll be the extent of his basketball work for the next week or two.

Wade’s ailing right hamstring was no better on Wednesday, one day after his preseason debut was cut short following a stint that lasted a mere 3 minutes, 17 seconds. Sore when he went to bed after the game, sore when he got up Wednesday morning, sore as the day went along.

“Today is the first day of the road to recovery,” Wade said as his teammates finished practice.

He walked stiffly Wednesday, but was on his feet for an extended period of time, which some in the gym took as a good sign. There’s still no clear indication how much time Wade will miss — coach Erik Spoelstra said he’ll be re-evaulated in a week, Wade is bracing to miss up to two weeks, LeBron James said it might be a few weeks before quickly adding “if less.”

Spoelstra said he thought Wade would receive an MRI; Wade said no test was scheduled. The only thing everyone is on the same page on is perhaps the most important thing: If an injury is going to strike, it may as well happen now before the grind of the 82-game season — and, the Heat hope, well beyond — finally begins.

“They assembled the team the right way,” James said. “The front office and coach Spo and Pat [Riley, the Heat president], they assembled the team the right way for the long haul. Right now, we’ve got a guy out, a great player that’s out right now and probably be out for a few weeks, if less. And we’ve got guys who can step up.”

Wade will travel with the Heat later this week for preseason games at Kansas City (against Oklahoma City) and San Antonio this weekend, but will not play.

“I know the offense, I know the defense and I know these guys,” Wade said. “Me fitting in, it won’t be a problem at all. ... We’re still building something here, off the court as well as on the court.”