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Heat bench Chinese big man Wang

(Agenices)
Updated: 2005-03-09 09:52

The Miami Heat, battling for the top record in the NBA, placed Chinese center Wang Zhi-Zhi on the injured list with a respiratory infection and welcomed back guard Steve Smith.

Wang, a backup to star center Shaquille O'Neal, is averaging 2.2 points in 17 games so far this season for the Heat, who own the best record in the Eastern Conference at 46-16, six games ahead of second-best Detroit.

Western Conference leader San Antonio, 46-13, and Phoenix at 46-14 are the only clubs with a better record than Miami, which obtained Smith last month in a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Smith, who played for the Heat from 1991 to 1994, was sidelined by a lower back strain. He averaged 7.9 points and 1.5 assists in 37 games with Charlotte this season.