Miami Heat

The Heat was without starting small forward Quentin Richardson and reserve power forward Udonis Haslem for Friday night's game against the Toronto Raptors. Haslem missed his second consecutive game because of a strained left shoulder. Richardson still is recovering from a lower back strain that flared up in the second half of Wednesday's loss in Atlanta.

"They both wanted to go. Hopefully for Sunday," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They are feeling a lot better. They've made a lot of progress in the last 24 hours."

James Jones, who ended last season as the Heat's starting small forward, made his first start of the season in place of Richardson. "He's been giving us good minutes in practice," Spoelstra said of the decision to go with Jones at small forward. "Just to give us a start, I like his veteran presence and understanding there with what we're trying to do."

Jones struggled, though, missing all five of his 3-point attempts against the Raptors.

Haslem went through Friday morning's shootaround at Air Canada Centre and was expecting to play.

"I actually thought I was," he said, informed about 90 minutes before the game by trainer Jay Sabol that he was being held out. "I went through walkthrough this morning and I still had a little pain. Jay came to me before the game and said he talked it over with Spo' and said we probably should wait two more days."

Haslem said he still was experiencing discomfort.

"It wasn't that sore," he said. "I was able to shoot today. A couple of things were painful."

He vowed to be back for Sunday's game at AmericanAirlines Arena against the New Orleans Hornets.

"They're going to have to drug me Sunday to keep me off the court," he said. "I'm playing on Sunday."

RAPTORS 120, HEAT 113: A 23-point first-half deficit proved too much to overcome, despite closing within one point late on a James Jones jumper. Ultimately, the Raptors' 43 second-quarter points and 9-of-15 shooting on 3-pointers proved insurmountable in a Miami defensive effort that left coach Erik Spoelstra livid.

• As one of the league's prime 2010 free agent targets, Raptors forward Chris Bosh found Friday his turn to be asked about the lure of the Heat's cap cash.

  "It's all a part of the business. I understand it's going to happen," he said of the questioning. "I think LeBron kind of said it best. You have to be respectful of my teammates and make sure I focus on this season, no matter what happens."

  LeBron James reiterated during last week's visit to AmericanAirlines Arena that he did not plan to discuss his impending free agency for the balance of the season. Bosh reiterated Friday that he "doesn't know" how his situation will play out.

  "I expect to keep it dormant like it's been," he said.

  For his part, Heat guard Dwyane Wade said he did not come north of the border to recruit.

  "The city sells itself. It's self-explanatory," he said. "I just have to make sure I sell the team and make sure the team and teammates around me are good and we are getting the most out of individuals that we can and that will make others want to come and be a part of it."

• In advance of the Heat's visit, Toronto F Chris Bosh was asked by AOL's Fanhouse about the possibilities of playing alongside Wade.

  "Anything is possible, I guess," Bosh said. "I guess that seems to be an attractive place, you know, playing with Dwyane and playing in Miami and everything. I guess if they had the right chemistry, the right guys, that they could persuade guys to get there. But we'll see."

  Unlike the Heat with Wade, the Raptors bypassed even offering Bosh the opportunity to sign an extension, appreciating that he would want to see how this season plays out in Toronto.

• Despite being linked to a late round of negotiations with Allen Iverson, the Heat denied reports that it had made a pitch for the recently released guard.

  "The Iverson rumors are just that, rumors," a team spokesman said. "There's nothing to it."

Quote To Note:

"We have to prove that our identity actually means something deep to us. One way or another, we're going to get back to that identity."

—Coach Erik Spoelstra, furious with his team's defense, after the Heat allowed 120 points to the Raptors, including 43 in the second quarter.

Rotation:

Starters—Point guard Mario Chalmers, Shooting guard Dwyane Wade, Small forward James Jones, Power forward Michael Beasley, Center Jermaine O'Neal. Bench—Center Joel Anthony, Guard Carlos Arroyo, Forward Shavlik Randolph, Guard Daequan Cook, Forward Dorell Wright.

Player Notes:

• In Friday's loss to the Raptors, this was F Michael Beasley as advertised. He was aggressive both in the scoring column and on the boards. Even more than that, he pushed through adversity after the Heat went down 23. Because of his play in the third quarter, it became a game. He finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with 41.5 seconds to play.

• G Mario Chalmers displayed a spirit in the second half against the Raptors that this team has been waiting a while to see. This time he competed, after a miserable first half. Chalmers closed with 30 points. His previous scoring high this season had been 16. His career high had been 23.

• F James Jones provided little on the defensive end in his first start of the season, against the Raptors. So, again, is there faith in F Dorell Wright or not? Wright did enter at the start of the second quarter, but played only five total minutes.

Medical Watch:

• F Udonis Haslem (shoulder) has missed the past two games because of a strained left shoulder. He said he is hopeful of returning Sunday at home against the Hornets.

• F Quentin Richardson (back) left in the third quarter of Wednesday's Hawks game with a lower-back strain and then missed Friday's game in Toronto. He, too, is hopeful of a Sunday return.

• G Chris Quinn (bruised foot) is out of his walking boot and available for his first action of the season. He has yet to make it off the inactive list.