Wade sits out with sprained ankle

Guard Dwyane Wade was held out of Miami's game against the New York Knicks on Monday night because of a sprained ankle, leaving a big void for a team still without Shaquille O'Neal.

Wade hurt his left ankle in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to Dallas. He managed to play 44 minutes and score 31 points, but struggled moving to his right and decided against playing on consecutive days.

"The swelling isn't that bad," coach Ron Rothstein said. "It's very, very tender and very sore. It's not as bad as they originally thought."

Wade's status is day to day. He has missed six other games this season _ four because of a sprained wrist and two because of oral surgery.

O'Neal was inactive for the 34th consecutive game. He's believed to be close to returning from knee surgery in November.

"He's moving forward," Rothstein said. "He's making progress. I don't see any major setbacks."

Not even on the bench was reserve guard Robert Hite, charged with driving under the influence early Sunday in Miami Beach. Hite apologized and is "acutely aware of the seriousness of the incident," Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement.

"Robert and I have mutually agreed that he take some time away from the team to try and get his personal issues in order," Riley said.