MIAMI (AP) — One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practice Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole – the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit – it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 percent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest – the ones from the foul line – that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls – for and against – have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights – one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 percent shooting Saturday, with James going 4 for 14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

MIAMI (AP) — One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practice Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole – the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit – it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 percent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest – the ones from the foul line – that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls – for and against – have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights – one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 percent shooting Saturday, with James going 4 for 14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

MIAMI (AP) — One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practice Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole — the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit — it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 percent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest — the ones from the foul line — that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls — for and against — have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights — one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 percent shooting Saturday, with James going 4 for 14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

MIAMI – One of Dwyane Wade’s biggest rivals is back, at the worst possible time for the Miami Heat.

Wade did not practise Sunday because of symptoms of a migraine, a problem that has plagued him for years and kept him out of a game earlier this season. His status for Game 2 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday is unclear, prompting at least some mild concern for the Heat.

“He’ll be here,” predicted Heat forward LeBron James.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t go out on that limb, saying that it’s “too soon” to know if the 2006 NBA finals MVP will be available when Miami gathers for practice Monday morning to complete preparations for Game 2.

Wade told the team that he felt a headache coming on Saturday afternoon before Miami’s 97-89 victory, playing 35 minutes without any obvious discomfort. Wade scored 17 points in that game, five of them in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a huge comeback attempt by the 76ers.

“We’ll have to see how he feels at the end of the day,” Spoelstra said. “We really wanted to be proactive right now and keep him rested and take medicine and we’ll go from there.”

So while there was some worry at Miami’s practice, the 76ers seemed totally loose at the end of their session. A few players shot free throws in flip-flops after the workout, others tried 20-footers with their non-shooting hand.

If the 76ers are nervous about the prospects of getting into a two-game hole — the Philadelphia franchise has lost all 16 series in which it’s faced an 0-2 deficit — it didn’t show.

“The younger guys, they’re not getting frustrated. They don’t even get it. They’re happy to be here, out here playing,” said 76ers forward Elton Brand. “The older guys, we’re saying we need to attack the rim. We need to put the onus on the refs to call it.”

Much as it was Saturday, foul shooting remained key in Philadelphia’s thoughts on Sunday.

Here’s the good news for the 76ers: They’ve held the Heat under 50 per cent shooting all four times they’ve played this season. Here’s the bad news: They’ve lost all those games.

It’s not the shots the 76ers are defending that are deciding their games against Miami. It’s the ones they can’t contest — the ones from the foul line — that are making the difference. Miami holds a 127-61 lead in free throws taken in its series with Philadelphia this season, including a 39-15 edge in Game 1.

“You’ve got to put that ball on the deck and drive in there and you’ve got to get some contact,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “So we’re going to keep trying to do that. That’s obviously an area we’d like to be better. But we scored 42 points in the paint yesterday, so it wasn’t like we were launching jumpers.”

Fouls — for and against — have been a season-long issue for the Sixers. They were 26th in the 30-team NBA in free throws taken this season, while Miami ranked third in that department. And while the 76ers had three players get called for fouls more than 200 times during the regular season, Wade was Miami’s leader with 197.

“They have athletes that attack that goal,” Brand said. “We don’t attack as much as those guys going to dunk the ball at the rim. So there’s going to be a disparity. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, they cause havoc, and (Chris) Bosh underneath, stuff like that. They’re going to get more fouls than us. We just have to be more aggressive.”

If Wade cannot go on Monday, the Sixers obviously catch a huge break. And if Wade does play, he may have to wear goggles again to protect his eyes from bright lights — one major migraine trigger.

Wade wore goggles with an orange tint when Miami faced the New York Knicks on Jan. 27, around the time of his last known fight with migraines. He made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch of that game, finishing with 34 points in a 93-88 loss.

The Heat have clearance from the NBA if Wade has to wear the goggles Monday.

Even with Wade in the lineup, Philadelphia held all three of Miami’s stars to under 50 per cent shooting Saturday, with James going 4-for-14 and Bosh 8 for 17. James and Bosh did combine for 25 rebounds and a 22-for-25 showing at the foul line.

James acknowledged that if he has to do more Monday, that’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” James said.

ATLANTA – Contently, Heat guard Dwyane Wade leaned back in his chair inside the visiting locker room at Philips Arena on Monday night and offered an easy smile. Finally, it was over.

Moments earlier, Wade received news that the Celtics had lost to the Wizards in overtime. The Heat’s playoff opponent for the first round was set (Philadelphia) and Miami had earned home-court advantage for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs.

A few feet to Wade’s left, teammate LeBron James was relaxing as well, surrounded by a few reporters and answering questions introspectively with a carefree attitude rarely seen this season. James was a reporter himself after Monday’s game as he followed the Celtics-Wizards game on his mobile phone and relayed the updated scores to his teammates.

“You think about everything we’ve gone through this year,” James said. “It took us 81 games to get to this point. It was just about staying the course, staying the course.”

The Heat’s plans for Wednesday night’s game against Toronto — the final game of the regular season — changed drastically in an instant when James shouted aloud the final score of the Wizards victory over the Celtics: 95-94. The Heat (57-24) now has the option to rest its starters for a game that cannot affect its playoff seeding.

The Heat assumed its final road swing of the regular season would feature two important games to determine its spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Before departing Miami, coach Erik Spoelstra told his team to approach the two-game stretch like the final two games of a playoff series. Wade packed accordingly.

No longer required to give maximum effort Wednesday, Wade was adjusting to the new scenario on the fly.

Apparently, Wade didn’t pack enough clothes in the event the Heat clinched the No. 2 seed Monday, which it did. Before even leaving Philips Arena, Wade was thinking about sitting out Wednesday’s game as an inactive player. He turned to Chris Bosh in the locker room and asked him if he had an extra suit.

Wade then joked that he might have a conversation with Spoelstra about sitting out Wednesday’s game. The Heat held an optional practice Tuesday at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and all indications point to the Heat resting its starters against the Raptors on Wednesday night.

“We have a little time to enjoy this, just because of how far we’ve come since November, when we were 9-8,” James said. “It was less than a month ago when we lost five in a row. We just continued to grind. I give a lot of credit to [Spoelstra] and a lot of credit to our coaching staff for keeping us in tune.”

Although giving the night off to the Heat’s Big 3 would be the conservative move, Miami can finish the regular season with the third-best record in the NBA with a victory. That could prove important should the Heat meet the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

The Mavericks (56-25) play the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday. A Heat loss and a Mavericks victory would give Dallas home-court advantage if the teams meet in the NBA Finals.

Entering Tuesday, only the San Antonio Spurs (61-19) and Chicago Bulls (60-20) had better records than the Heat, meaning the Bulls would hold home-court advantage if they play the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

The playoffs, which begin Saturday, were on the minds of the Heat’s players before Monday’s game in Atlanta. Heat forward James Jones talked with reporters about the difficult matchups both the Sixers and Knicks could present. Jones said the Sixers’ youthful energy would be difficult to overcome in a long series.