MIAMI — Dwyane Wade could miss his sixth straight game Monday when the Knicks face the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena, leading to further speculation about his All-Star status.
The Heat (21-29), battling the Nets for the final playoff spot, announced Wade participated only in non-contact drills Sunday, listing him as questionable. If Wade doesn’t play against the Knicks, he could be saving himself for his former mate LeBron James, when the Heat and Cavaliers tangle Wednesday in the teams’ last game before the All-Star break.
Wade already has a couple of All-Star charity events set up for New York, including a celebrity bowling event Saturday to help underprivileged kids. Wade was beaten out in the voting for starting guard by John Wall and Kyle Lowry.
Commissioner Adam Silver would make the call on replacing Wade and could go with a fourth Hawk in Kyle Korver, who is in the 3-point shooting contest. Nets coach Lionel Hollins lobbied Friday for Kevin Garnett, saying Silver should have the right to name an honorary player to commemorate his career.
Point guard Shane Larkin will play his first game in Miami since he starred for the Hurricanes. Last season, when he was a Mavericks rookie, he missed the game here with a broken foot.
“It means a lot to be able to play in front of a lot of friends, family members, people who supported me when I played for Miami,’’ Larkin said.
Derek Fisher is concerned about the new lengthy All-Star break. The Knicks will play their final game before the break in Orlando on Wednesday and won’t resume until playing host to Miami the following Friday — a layoff of nine days. Fisher believes it’s great for the players participating in All-Star Weekend but might be too long for the rest of the players.
Fisher was the union president as a player and the longer break was one of the issues he fought for. But now Fisher said it’s not ideal for the coaching staff to have the players away so long.
Since snapping their 16-game losing streak, the Knicks are 5-5 and are currently on a three-game losing streak. … Despite Miami’s losing record, the Heat still have two players on the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. Chris Bosh, thriving in the wake of James’ departure, will join Wade in New York.