NEW YORK _ Yes, there was a game, with a final score of Brooklyn Nets 113, Miami Heat 94.
To the Nets, that mattered, Wednesday night's victory at Barclays Center giving them the No. 6 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
For the Heat, eliminated from playoff contention a night earlier, this was all about the 1,231st and final game _ regular seasons and playoffs _ of the 16-year career of inevitable Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.
It ended with the ultimate tribute to the completeness of Wade's game, a triple-double completed before the start of the fourth quarter, the fifth triple-double of Wade's 16-season career and first since Feb. 2011 _ 25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists.
While lacking the emotion of Tuesday night's 30-point tour de force at AmericanAirlines Arena, it was a closing time that proved deeply personal, one shared with the closest of friends.
A night after contributing to the narration of the Heat's retrospective video of Wade's career, LeBron James made the trip for Wade's final game, along with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.
"Listen," James told Fox Sports Sun in a courtside interview, "we couldn't miss D-Wade's last game. This is the last time he's going to be on an NBA floor wearing that Miami Heat uniform, that No. 3, so we're happy to be here to support."
James, whose season with the Los Angeles Lakers ended Tuesday, said Wade's farewell season transcended mere basketball.
"Just the appreciation, man," he said, "Not only from his fans, not only from his coaches and his teammates, but D-Wade's appreciation to everybody else, just showing the love. He's given so much to this game."
James went to the NBA Finals with the Heat as a Wade teammate from 2011 to 2014, with championships in 2012 and '13.
"It's been an unbelievable journey for my guy," James said, "and I'm happy to be here for the last little roll before that train comes to a stop."
To Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, Wade's "One Last Dance" season proved inspirational.
"There haven't been many successful guys that have done a retirement tour and been able to manage everything and strike a balance where it's not only about you," Spoelstra said. "Dwyane did that brilliantly.
"This was about the team. He was breathing life into young players, creating a new generation of Miami Heat players with our young guys that, with his guidance, they took on another level. I cherish that."
