MIAMI - The last time Dwyane Wade played in an NBA Finals game, he needed fluid drained from his left knee and eight hours of intense game-day therapy just to get into uniform. The Miami Heat guard later described it in a single word. "Hell," Wade said. It was also worth it, after he scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and hoisted his third Larry OBrien Trophy. Now, unlike last year, Wade is not dealing with any injuries heading into the Miamis finals rematch against the San Antonio Spurs. At 32 years old and with 866 NBA games already on his playing odometer, Wade still deals with plenty of aches and pains, good days and bad days, and basically has a standing appointment in the Heat training room. But compared to last seasons NBA Finals, his knees are good as new. "Hes a big-time, huge piece to our puzzle," four-time NBA MVP and Heat star LeBron James said. "To have him out there in the groove that hes in right now, its going to help us." The Heat are looking to win their third straight title and Wade is on the cusp of joining a list of all-time NBA greats. There are just seven players with four championships and at least one NBA Finals MVP award on their resumes: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Magic Johnson, Shaquille ONeal, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and the Spurs Tim Duncan. Wade could be the eighth person in that club. "We just want to continue to add to what were accomplishing," Wade said. Almost forgotten amid all the memories of Wade limping about during last years playoffs — he whacked what was his "good" knee at this time last year, the surgically repaired left one, in a collision with the Spurs Manu Ginobili during Game 6 of the finals — is he had big games when Miami needed him. Through his first 14 games of the 2013 playoffs, Wade was averaging 13.6 points. In the final eight games of that post-season run, starting with Game 7 against Indiana, he averaged 19.8 points. And in the last four games of the finals, he averaged 23.5 points against the Spurs to close the series. As his knees got worse, Wade seemed to get better. "He still found a way last year," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He really did. He had some of his biggest games not only in the finals, but Game 7, we didnt think necessarily he was going to even play that game in the Eastern Conference finals." This year, the Heat tried to leave nothing to chance with Wades health. The so-called maintenance plan for Wade — limiting his minutes to save his knees — kicked in on the second night of the regular season. He wound up missing 28 games in all, mostly because of that rest-and-rehab scheme, to ensure that he would be good to go in the playoffs. The results cant be argued. Wade is averaging 18.7 points on 52 per cent shooting, Miami is 12-3 in the playoffs and when getting more than three days rest — like the Heat will have before Game 1 in San Antonio on Thursday night — the perennial All-Star has had games of 23, 14, 27 and 23 points on a combined 60 per cent shooting. "Dwyane is playing great," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday. "He looks a lot more spry and ready to go then he did last year in the finals." Maybe the biggest payoff of the regular-season maintenance plan has been how Wade has closed games in this post-season. Wade is shooting 56 per cent in fourth quarters during the playoffs, the best clip of his career and the best percentage of any guard with more than 30 shots in the final period of post-season games this season. San Antonios Danny Green is second on that list, shooting just under 49 per cent. Wade doesnt like talking about his place in history. But he knows what rarefied air he would be entering with a fourth title run. "I think weve all put ourselves in great situations, and were just going to continue to try to enjoy this moment that were in because its an amazing moment," Wade said. "Its something that, for a lifetime, is going to fulfil us as athletes. Even when we cant play this game, were going to always be able to talk about this." And now, when talking about his health, Wade has another one-word answer: "Better." [url=http://www.cheapsteelersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-kevin-rader-jersey]Kevin Rader Jersey[/url] . James Jones got his turn Sunday. And the lift he brought, combined with the expected playoff showings from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, have the Heat off and running in these playoffs. [url=http://www.cheapsteelersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-kameron-canaday-jersey]Kameron Canaday Jersey[/url] . All of 46 seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 victory over Alex Ovechkins struggling Washington Capitals, Crosby assisted on Chris Kunitzs goal. http://www.cheapsteelersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-mel-blount-jersey. Numbers Game looks into the Wild getting Matt Moulson from Buffalo. The Wild Get: LW Matt Moulson and LW Cody McCormick. [url=http://www.cheapsteelersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-stephon-tuitt-jersey]Stephon Tuitt Jersey[/url] .James scored 29 points, including 16 in the first quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers broke a four-game losing streak with a 106-74 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. [url=http://www.cheapsteelersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-artie-burns-jersey]Artie Burns Jersey[/url] . Grilli hasnt pitched since straining his left oblique in late April. Manager Clint Hurdle says the right-hander will make a couple of appearances in middle relief before the team determines whether to return Grilli to the back end of the bullpen.WASHINGTON - Braden Holtbys iron-man run produced another shutout as he made 21 saves in his 20th consecutive start and lifted the Washington Capitals to a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night.Holtby put up his fourth blank slate of the season, including three since he became too hot to rest. Jason Chimeras first-period goal was all the offence the Capitals needed as they won for the 14th time in 19 games overall and for the seventh straight home game.Holtby is 14-2-4 during his starting streak, and he hasnt allowed more than one goal in his last three games. He also played in his 26th connective game, extending his franchise record.Holtby was nearly matched by Flyers goalie Rob Zepp, the 33-year-old rookie who filled in for the second straight game while Steve Mason is out because of an upper-body injury. Zepp made 25 saves, including a terrific left pad save on Eric Fehr late in the second period.CANADIENS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Max Pacioretty scored two power-play goals, and P.K. Subban added another — all in a span of 3:53 of the third period — to lead Montreal to a comeback victory over Columbus.Carey Price made 14 saves, and Andrei Markov had two assists for the Canadiens, who have earned points in eight of nine games and 11 of 13.Ryan Johansen scored a third-period, power-play goal to extend his career-best point streak to 11 games. Kevin Connauton also had a goal for Columbus on its first shot of the game. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves and lost his shutout bid with 8 1/2 minutes remaining.The Canadiens, who had seven power plays, scored on three consecutive advantages in the third period to overcome a 2-0 deficit. They came in ranked 28th in the NHL on the powwer play.dddddddddddd.DUCKS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 0ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Corey Perry scored three goals and Frederik Andersen made 28 saves for his second career shutout in Anaheims blanking of Toronto.Kyle Palmieri also scored in the Ducks fourth victory in five games, putting them back atop the overall NHL standings alongside Nashville.Capping his league-leading third hat trick of the season with an empty-net goal, Perry took over the team lead with 18 goals this season despite missing 15 games with illness and injury.His second goal was a breakaway set up by a long, beautiful backhand pass from captain Ryan Getzlaf, who had two assists in Anaheims first win over Toronto in seven tries.Jonathan Bernier stopped 21 shots for the Maple Leafs, 1-3 under new coach Peter Horachek.Andersen earned his 44th victory in just 64 career games. He also got an assist on Perrys empty-netter that completed the forwards eighth career hat trick.DEVILS 5, KINGS 3LOS ANGELES (AP) — Steve Bernier netted his first two power-play goals of the season, and New Jersey scored three times during a 68-second span of the second period in a victory over Los Angeles.Martin Havlat, Michael Cammalleri and Michael Ryder also scored for the Devils, and Cory Schneider made 23 saves.The Kings goals were scored by Marian Gaborik, Justin Williams and captain Dustin Brown, who ended a 17-game drought. The defending Stanley Cup champions have played 20 consecutive games without being outshot but are 8-7-5 during that stretch.It was the third meeting between the teams since the Kings beat the Devils in the 2012 Stanley Cup finals. Jaromir Jagr and Tuomo Ruutu didnt make the trip for the three-game West Coast swing because of the flu. 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