Wade says the next step after time off is a return to rhythm

INDIANAPOLIS — Dwyane Wade did as expected after missing five games with a strained left hamstring, he took a small step forward.

Both Wade and coach Erik Spoelstra were encouraged by Wade’s return in Friday’s 105-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, as the Miami Heat turned their attention to Sunday’s game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“I think I was OK, physically,” Wade said, closing with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting in 19:59 Friday.

Wade also had the only two turnovers among the Heat’s’ reserves.

“Very encouraging with those minutes,” said Spoelstra, who was not at Saturday’s practice, with the team reporting him back at the hotel feeling ill. “He’ll get in better rhythm. He was actually in better rhythm than I anticipated.

“But he really has been working hard behind the scenes. That doesn’t happen by accident. If you’re doing daily-doubles and really preparing yourself, you can go into a situation like that. He’s been through this many times.”

The real test came at Saturday’s practice, with Wade encouraged how he came out of Friday’s game.

“I felt fine,” he said while toweling off on the Pacers’ practice court. “Before I came back, I really thought that I did a lot of things that prepared me to play in the game. So I felt fine. Now it’s just about getting back into game shape and getting into better rhythm, kind of where I was before, before I had the injury.”

Spoelstra said the goal remains to utilize Wade, 36, as a stabilizing presence with the second unit.

“He obviously is going to help settle us, particularly against really good teams on the road,” Spoelstra said. “He just gives you a sense of poise and confidence.”