Pat Riley left Shaquille O'Neal on the bench for 9 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter, testing a new tactic and perhaps the relationship between superstar coach and superstar center.

"That's once in a lifetime right there," guard Dwyane Wade said Monday. "There are not many times when Shaq has been on the bench in the fourth quarter."

The move worked, with the Heat pulling out a 98-92 victory over the Cavaliers.

"That was a game situation," Riley said. "He's supposed to be on the court, but I had a hard time taking anybody off the court at that time, because we were down and then we went ahead by eight. As a coach, you're going to ride that lineup as long as you can."

For the second day in a row, O'Neal declined to talk with reporters Monday, fueling speculation he was unhappy about watching the end of the game from the bench.