Miami
Heat

Updated: January 9, 2009, 4:40 AM EST

Miami could use the $400,000 to sign a player such as veteran center Alonzo Mourning to a pro-rated portion of the veteran's minimum. And it now has the roster spot to use for Mourning, who could be ready to return in about a month or so. Mourning is recovering from a serious knee injury he sustained last season.

The draft pick might not be much of a help to the Heat. It is protected from Nos. 1 through 55. So the Heat only gets the pick if it is between Nos. 56-60, the last five picks of the draft.

Livingston was signed by Miami on Oct. 3. He played in four games and averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 assists in 10.3 minutes per game. Livingston was selected fourth by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2004 draft out of Peoria Central (Ill.) High School. He played two-plus seasons with the Clippers but sustained a devastating knee injury in February 2007 in which he tore three ligaments and dislocated his left kneecap. The Heat was hopeful Livingston could contribute next season.

"We saw some progress over the last three weeks, in particular," Spoelstra said.

NUGGETS 108, HEAT 97: Two statistics were significant to Miami's loss: It had a 15-point deficit at the free throw line and it allowed Denver a season-high 35 fast-break points. The second figure is really mind-boggling when you consider the Heat had a 36-30 edge in points in the paint.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said the Heat's defense was "horrible."

"Defensively, it was one of our poorer performances of the season," he said. As for the free throw difference, Miami was 15-for-16 (93.8 percent) while Denver was 30-for-40 (75 percent).

Dwyane Wade (31 points) said he had nothing to say about the free throw disparity. Asked if he had any thoughts on the free throw difference, Wade took the high road.

"No thoughts at all," he said.

Spoelstra wasn't as conservative. He admitted Denver was the aggressor on most plays, but also added "there were some other ones it seemed like cheap fouls were called against us."

"It is situational," coach Erik Spoelstra said of the backup job. "Marcus, for a handful of games there, we used him for defensive purposes. But Quinny's been solid for us all year, so right now we're going with him for backup."

--F James Jones is scheduled to participate in his first full-speed practice Thursday in Sacramento. Jones traveled with the Heat on its seven-game road swing that began Wednesday. Jones had surgery to repair a torn right (shooting) wrist tendon late in training camp. His three-point shooting skills would be a welcome addition alongside G Dwyane Wade's ability to drive-and-kick. Already, G Chris Quinn is 11th in three-point percentage (.426) and G Daequan Cook is seventh in three-pointers made (75).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm happy for him because he started shooting the ball well here. We knew his shot was coming in the gym. We just didn't see it coming on the court yet. When he could can make 20 out of 25 (three-pointers), we knew he'd made another step." -- Denver coach George Karl on Heat F Yakhouba Diawara, a former Nugget.

--F Michael Beasley, coming off the first double-double of his career, had 12 points and three rebounds against Denver. In Beasley's final three quarters he had two points (on 1-for-5 shooting) and one foul in 12 minutes.

--F Shawn Marion had perhaps his best game of the year with a season-high 25 points and 13 rebounds against Denver.

--G Mario Chalmers had a season-high seven turnovers against Denver veteran G Chauncey Billups.

--G Dwyane Wade had two blocks Wednesday against Denver and now averages 1.6 per game, which ranks among the league's top 20. Wade is the only guard ranked that highly.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--F James Jones (right wrist surgery) said he should be ready this month. Jones, Miami's best three-point shooter, had his cast removed on Nov. 18. He said he could return as soon as Jan. 12 or somewhere around that time.

--F Dorell Wright (knee surgery) is out for an undetermined amount of time. There's a chance he's out a full year. He had surgery on his left knee Nov. 25 to remove loose bodies. Wright originally had surgery on his left knee in March to repair a torn ligament.

--C Alonzo Mourning (knee surgery) is out until sometime in January or possibly February. Mourning, 38, isn't on the roster but Miami expects him to return.