Wade dislocates finger, Wizards take advantage

 LeBron James and Chris Bosh sat out the game, resting for the postseason. Dwyane Wade played and got hurt.

Wade lasted less than three minutes before dislocating his left index finger, and without their three stars Saturday night, the Miami Heat lost at home, 86-84, to the woeful Washington Wizards.

Wade appeared to get his finger caught in another player's jersey and immediately went to the locker room grimacing in pain. He never returned, even though fans chanted "We want Dwyane!" a couple of times.

There was no immediate estimate as to how long Wade might be out, but with the playoffs beginning next weekend, the Heat will hope for a speedy recovery. He has already missed 14 games this season because of injuries; the Heat are 13-1 without him.

Dwight Howard is making his first steps toward recovery from season-ending back surgery.

The all-star center for the Orlando Magic was scheduled to begin his postoperative walking program Saturday, one day after a herniated disc was repaired and some fragments removed during a procedure in Los Angeles.

Howard will miss the remainder of the Orlando season, including playoffs. He also will not play for the United States this summer at the London Olympics.

Before this season, Howard had missed only two games in his career because of injury, though he sat out a handful of other times because of illness or suspension.

Magic general manager Otis Smith told coach Stan Van Gundy of the plan for Howard to have surgery Thursday night, adding yet another chapter to a drama-filled season for Orlando.

Derek Fisher has rejected a call from the NBA players association's executive committee to resign as president, instead urging players to seek a review of the union's finances.

Hours after the NBPA said Friday that the executive committee voted, 8-0, this week that it had lost confidence in Fisher's ability to lead, Fisher said he will not step down.

Fisher, who recently signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder after playing most of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, has been the union's president since 2006. He led players during the negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement this offseason.

"The allegations that are now being directed at me are defamatory," Fisher said. "I urge our members to order an independent review beginning immediately and that will be proven, along with finding out definitively if there are any issues with the NBPA's business practices and finances."

- Associated Press