Heat notebook: Dwyane Wade's struggles continue

“Some nights I have big nights scoring and some nights I don't,” Wade said. “That's just the season. That's the way it's been designed for me.”

In his past five games, dating to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Wade's offense has been uncharacteristically sluggish, shooting 38-of-97 (39 percent) from the field.

“He had a couple good opportunities to get into the paint there in the fourth, a couple of them he wasn't able to convert,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But he was aggressive during that quarter, and so we'll try to get him in places where he can continue to be aggressive.”

BOSH COMES OFF BENCH

Before Game 5 against of the Eastern Conference Finals, Heat forward Chris Bosh had only come off the bench 12 times, regular and postseason combined, in his nine-year NBA career.

In fact, the seven-time All-Star hadn't played as a non-starter since 2004, his rookie season. But Bosh, coming off an abdomen injury that forced him to miss nine games, came off the bench for the final three games of the Boston series.

Because of his strong play and the team's turnaround, some speculated Bosh should remain a bench player in the Finals. Spoelstra was coy about it pregame, saying he would be fine telling the Thunder, but didn't want to release it to the media.

“One of the few times that hopefully we can control a little bit of the noise out there,” Spoelstra said. “Guys can just focus in, get into their iPads and focus on the game.”

About 30 minutes before tip, lineups were handed out and Bosh once again came off the bench. He finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 33 minutes.

“He has been very accepting of just trying to fit in,” Spoelstra said. “But I think we're going to need more from him offensively and try to get him in spots where he is able to be aggressive.”