MIAMI -- Miami star LeBron James was rested Saturday. But there might be good news for those who have tickets for Sunday's game.
James said before Saturday's 86-84 loss to Washington he will play in Sunday's regular season home finale against Houston. However, it should be noted the comment came before the Heat were all but knocked out of consideration for the No. 1 seed in the East. James wasn't available after the game and Miami coach Erik Spoelstra would not confirm James will play.
Spoelstra said James was held out against the Wizards due to a "maintenance program." While LeBron had said earlier in the week he's always reluctant to rest, Spoelstra said he and James are "on the same page."
"He extended himself last week, but he is feeling fine," Spoelstra said of James, who had 27 points in Thursday's big 83-72 win over Chicago. "He was pretty sore. He was dehydrated at the end of the last game. He wasn't able to go through (Saturday's) shootaround, so this was a pretty easy decision."
James normally doesn't talk before games, but was asked before Saturday's affair if he would make an exception since he wasn't playing. He didn't want to talk except to say he will return Sunday.
Also out for the Heat on Saturday was forward Chris Bosh, who missed his third straight game due to various ailments, and center Ronny Turiaf, who sat out his sixth straight due to a left hamstring pull.
And three minutes into Saturday's game, Dwyane Wade was also lost for the night with a dislocated left index finger. Wade, who caught his hand in the jersey of Washington forward Jordan Crawford, looked to be in great pain. But he said after the game he did not consider the injury serious
Shortly after Wade's injury, James -- who had not been made inactive -- went to the locker room and came back taped and apparently ready to play. However, Spoelstra elected not to use him.
Wizards forward Trevor Booker said before the game he was offended James wasn't scheduled to play. Then again, it's not as if he could have done anything about it since Washington coach Randy Wittman said Booker would also not play due to a foot injury.
"It definitely bothers me," Booker said about James sitting out. "The only thing we can do is make them pay for that."
Booker pointed out that Chicago rested All-Stars Derrick Rose and Luol Deng last Monday, although both of those players did have nagging injuries, and the Wizards scored a 87-84 upset. It should be noted that Booker, who has missed the past 12 games, also didn't play in that one.
"This time of the season, the teams that are already in the playoffs, they probably think they're going to beat us anyway, so they can rest some of their guys," said Booker, whose Wizards came into Saturday's game with a 16-46 record to Miami's 45-17. "The only thing we can do is come out and make them pay for it."
While there looks to be no great concern from the Heat about James, Bosh is being looked at closely. While the Heat have not specified what his injury is, Spoelstra revealed he got banged up in games last Sunday at New York and Monday at New Jersey.
"We will continue to evaluate him each day," Spoelstra said of Bosh. "He took a spill in the New York game, and then he took a hit in the next game. They are minor ailments. He was able to work out (Friday). We're really being proactive with him."
Spoelstra said Bosh will play again before the regular season ends Thursday. Spoelstra seemed more uncertain about Turiaf.
"If you rush back, those are the ones that come back to bite you," Spoelstra said of hamstring injuries.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
