Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat completed his most extensive workout Tuesday since he dislocated his shoulder last month and could begin practicing with the team as early as next week.

Wade went through shooting drills on a side court as his teammates practiced Tuesday morning. Once the 90-minute practice ended, Wade continued to shoot and drive to the basket for another hour in a workout with rookie point guard Chris Quinn and two Heat assistant coaches.

Wade said afterward it was the most work he has done on the court since he dislocated his left shoulder and sustained a torn labrum during a Feb. 21 loss in Houston.

''I'm continuing to work every day, and when it feels right, it'll feel right,'' Wade said. ``Today was my first day. That was my introduction. It was pretty good work. Every day I try to shoot more and more.

``Where I felt the night of the injury to where I am now feels like a year ago. It just feels great to be out there.''

Shaquille O'Neal passed Reggie Miller for 12th place on the NBA's career scoring list Monday night, getting his 25,280th point.

O'Neal entered the night 10 points behind Miller, and got his 11th point on a free throw with 5:43 left in the first half against the Hawks.

Dwyane Wade's dislocated left shoulder is "healing and tightening up," Miami coach Pat Riley said Saturday.

"Everything the doctors tell me is that they took another MRI and things seem to be healing and tightening up," Riley said before the defending NBA champion Heat hosted the 76ers. "From that standpoint, it's good. But can he play basketball? I don't know."

Riley said he and Wade may "have a conversation" in the next couple days to discuss the guard's progress, but he quickly added that he doesn't know any specifics about when Wade could return to the lineup. After Saturday, the Heat have 13 regular-season games remaining.

It has been two weeks since Dwyane Wade announced that he will postpone shoulder surgery in order to attempt a return to action this season.  He still does not know when he will be ready.

"Physically, I'm doing good," Wade said Monday on a conference call to announce his plan for upgrading his old high school gym at Richards High in Oak Lawn, Ill., a Chicago suburb. "I've been working out every day and doing what they're telling me to do. So I'm doing all right."

Heat guard Gary Payton missed Miami's game with Orlando on Sunday night with a strained right groin.

Payton aggravated the injury Friday in the first half of Miami's win over Sacramento. He's averaging 5.6 points playing mostly off the bench this season for the defending NBA champions.

His status is day-to-day, the team said.

Heat forward Jason Kapono had a protective cast removed from his sprained left ankle Friday, but the team isn't sure when the NBA's leading 3-point shooter will return to the lineup.

"It's all going to be day-to-day," Miami coach Pat Riley said.

The Timberwolves will get backup post player Mark Madsen back before they face Shaquille O'Neal and the Heat on Friday night.

Madsen has missed the last six games because of a sprained left ankle, but he said after Thursday's practice that he's ready to return.

The Miami Heat announced results of an MRI preformed today on Jason Kapono?s left ankle revealed a high ankle sprain and a bone contusion. Kapono will have a cast placed on the ankle tomorrow night, which he will wear for 10 days, and will then be re-evaluated.

Kapono suffered the injury in the third quarter of Miami?s 88-81 win over Atlanta last night. The four-year veteran, who won the NBA Three-Point Shootout at All-Star Weekend last month in Las Vegas, currently leads the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.513). In 58 games this season (career-high 34 starts), the UCLA graduate has averaged 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 26.4 minutes while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor and 88.7 percent from the line. Already this season he has set career highs in minutes played (1,530), three-point field goals made (team-leading 97) and assists (70) and tied his career high in defensive rebounds (132).

Heat guard Jason Kapono, the NBA leader in 3-point percentage, sprained his left ankle late in the third quarter of Miami's game against Atlanta on Monday night.

He would not return, the team said.

Kapono jumped to defend a jumper by Atlanta's Joe Johnson, and his left foot landed on the foot of Heat teammate James Posey. Kapono's ankle twisted awkwardly, he remained on the floor in pain and was quickly tended to by Miami trainer Ron Culp.

Dwyane Wade announced on Monday morning that he will attempt to return this season.

Wade hasn't played since dislocating his left shoulder Feb. 21 in Houston while reaching in for a steal against Rockets forward Shane Battier, Wade said he plans to undertake a vigorous rehabilitation program that could have him back for the final games of the regular season.

Heat's Wade plans on returning this season

By Ira Winderman
Sun-Sentinel.com

March 5, 2007, 10:01 AM CST

MIAMI -- Heat guard Dwyane Wade announced Monday morning he will attempt to return this season.

Sidelined since dislocating his left shoulder Feb. 21 in Houston while reaching in for a steal against Rockets forward Shane Battier, Wade said he plans to undertake a vigorous rehabilitation program that could have him back for the final games of the regular season.

"My decision is for the next two to three weeks to rehab, with the possibility of coming back, but with no guarantee," Wade said at a hastily called announcement at AmericanAirlines Arena, "and to see if I have the confidence in my shoulder to play at a high level."