CLEVELAND _ This never should have been about the game itself, not with the Cleveland Cavaliers this bad, entering a league worst 8-29, on a six-game losing streak.
So even with Josh Richardson scoring 24 and Hassan Whiteside grabbing 12 rebounds, Wednesday night's 117-92 Miami Heat victory at Quicken Loans Arena transcended what transpired during most of the 48 minutes, as the Heat moved back to .500 at 18-18.
Instead, it was about Dion Waiters' first action since Dec. 22, 2017, back for the first time since last January's ankle surgery.
Ultimately, it was limited to a pair of cameos of 6:26 in the first half for Waiters and then the final minutes at the close when it was decided, facilitated by Dwyane Wade being unavailable due to a stomach illness.
But it also injected a spark of optimism into a season spent searching for a way to get above .500 and move beyond.
In the end, Waiters closed 3 of 9 for seven points, with three assists and two rebounds, taking a turn in Erik Spoelstra's zone defense as a reminder of earlier day's in Joe Boeheim's alignment at Syracuse.
In a cold building that also houses a minor-league hockey team, prudence was the approach in holding Waiters with the exception of the brief stints.
As it is, the ankle will remain closely monitored.
"There will be pain here and there, because it's new," Waiters said, "but it is nowhere near before I got surgery. Being able to have that excitement, waking up every day, knowing my body and my foot are improving, I always had the confidence."
The Heat led 58-43 at halftime and moved to a 93-73 lead at the end of the third quarter.
