NBA | Dwyane Wade rises to expectations of Heat fans

MIAMI — Dwyane Wade took a pass off the backboard from Chris Paul, jumped with arms outstretched and effortlessly threw down a two-handed dunk.

Less than 30 seconds after tipoff, superstar guard Wade reminded Miami Heat fans what they have missed.

OK, it was a charity game, with almost no defense, LeBron James throwing lobs to himself and five-point shot attempts. Didn't matter. Wade was on his home court Sunday night for the first time since injuries ended his 2007-08 league season five weeks prematurely, and gave the crowd what it longed to see — the 2006 NBA Finals most valuable player seemingly back in form.

"It's good to get back to playing basketball," Wade said. "I'm happy just to get back out there again, have some fun and, most importantly, support the cause."

The cause was Alonzo Mourning Charities, the primary beneficiary of Zo's Summer Groove, which is in its 12th year and traditionally closes with an All-Star caliber matchup. This year's version might have been the most star-studded, with Cleveland's James and New Orleans' Paul among those in uniform. NFL receiver Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys was there, lobbing toy basketballs into the crowd. The Heat past (Tim Hardaway, Damon Jones) and future (rookies Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers) were on display.

But the biggest ovation might have been for Wade.

"We're having some fun," Wade said. "It's not a regular-season game, but we want to entertain the fans and have some fun."

Wade, 26, was co-headliner of the weeklong series of ZSG events, which reportedly have raised around $7 million for children's causes in South Florida.

And the highlight was this game, where Wade strutted and shot to the delight of fans and under the watchful eye of Heat president Pat Riley, who sat courtside.

"It was a great idea for Dwyane and I to bring our resources together," said 38-year-old center Mourning, who was told by doctors not to play because of continuing rehabilitation of a knee injury he suffered in December but appeared for the last few minutes and made a five-point shot as time expired. Wade's team beat Mourning's squad 174-164.

It was Wade's first time playing before home fans since March 5. He had surgeries on his shoulder and knee in May 2007 and wasn't 100 percent last season. His left knee was so sore four months ago that getting out of bed was an adventure. The Heat finished a league-worst 15-67.

Notes

• Guard Gilbert Arenas, 26, signed his six-year, $111 million contract with the Washington Wizards, securing the return of a three-time All-Star who is accepting $16 million less than he was offered.

Arenas and the Wizards agreed to the deal July 3, but both sides waited until Arenas returned from an overseas trip to settle the details.

• The Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Gordon, a college standout at Indiana who was the seventh player drafted last month, has a strained hamstring and won't play again in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, ESPN.com reported. Gordon, a guard, averaged 19 points in two summer games, making 16 of 21 free throws.