Wade overcomes injury to boost Heat over Blazers

Wade, who finished 14-of-23 from the field with five assists, was injured when he collided with Portland’s Joel Przybilla while driving to the net. The NBA’s fourth-leading scorer then fell on top of Przybilla and began writhing in pain.

Wade was taken to the locker room and was diagnosed with a bruised left shoulder, but did return to the court minutes later and finished the game.

Less than one hour before tip-off, Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley announced he will return from his leave of absence after the All-Star break. His first game back will be February 21 when the Heat travel to Houston.

Assistant Ron Rothstein took over on the bench and Miami has been 13-9 since. The Heat were just 13-17 under Riley’s leadership.

Udonis Haslem netted 12 points, while Jason Kapono and James Posey each contributed 11 for the Heat, who have won seven of their last eight games to finish an even .500 (26-26) entering the All-Star Break.

Miami shot a sizzling 56 percent from the floor.

Zach Randolph scored 17 points, Jarrett Jack had 16 and Brandon Roy added 15 for the Trail Blazers, who have dropped four of six. Ime Udoka donated 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds in defeat.

In the third the quarter, Jack’s running jumper put Portland up by one, but the Heat went on an 8-0 spurt, ended on Haslem’s jump shot for a 71-64 edge with just under a minute to play.

Juan Dixon drilled a trey as the Trail Blazers trailed 73-70 entering the fourth.

Miami, though, ran away with it in the final frame by ripping off 18 of the first 25 points — led by 10 points from Wade — to go up 91-77 at the 5:17 mark.

Portland never threatened and was outscored 31-15 in the quarter.

Portland opened the contest with an 11-4 run, and led 18-10 following a jumper by Udoka late in the first. The Trail Blazers held a 24-22 edge at the conclusion of the frame.

A nip-and-tuck second quarter featured five ties, but it was Kapono who hit a jumper with 1:20 remaining to give Miami a 46-44 edge at halftime.

Game Notes

Dixon ended with 12 points for Portland...Miami has won five straight against the Trail Blazers...Portland shot 42 percent from the field.