Matt Barnes toes the line for Orlando Magic

Magic SF Matt Barnes is as tough as they come, but even he's concerned each game about how long he can play on his aching big toe.

Barnes already has missed one game, and now he realizes he'll need to play even more minutes with his back-up, Mickael Pietrus, likely out for a week because of a sprained ankle.

"That's a big factor for me with MP out," Barnes said after the Magic's overtime win Thursday night in Miami against the Heat, which followed up their victory Wednesday against San Antonio.

Coach Stan Van Gundy called Barnes' situation "a problem for us" before the game.

Barnes has dealt with the toe problem since undergoing surgery when he played at UCLA. He arrived early for the game against the Heat at American Airlines Arena to warm up.

Barnes half-winced, half-laughed when he talked about a play in which he appeared to have been faked out of his shoes on a cross-over move by Dwyane Wade. "On the play it looked like he crossed me up, he stepped on my bad toe," Barnes said, adding the pain caused him to flinch wildly.

Barnes will get something of a respite after Van Gundy decided his team needed Friday and Saturday off. He already has shortened his practices.

The Magic will resume practice on Sunday, then leave later in the day for Philadelphia. They face the Sixers on Monday night at Wachovia Center.

Wade, Howard share bond

Wade and Dwight Howard still greet each other at tip-off with a gesture born from their shared experience as teammates in the Olympics. Howard and Wade touch hands then recoil, jumping backward in exaggerated fashion.

Wade said that the difference between the Heat and the Magic — and most teams and the Magic — is Howard, plain and simple.

"They get good shots every game because having Dwight roll to the basket makes the defense come over and that allows four shooters at a time," Wade said. "They're always going to have better shots than you."

Layups

More Wade on the Magic: "This is not a team you can put your head down when the ball goes in the basket. They can hit three or four in a row. You have to stick with it. You have to be high energy against this team."

The Magic and the Heat finished their season series 2-2, with each team winning one game by a blow-out and one by a close call. "It was important for us to tie the series up," Barnes said. "There is a good chance we are going to see them again in the playoffs."

If Orlando maintains the No. 2 playoff seed, it might have to wait until the end of the season to see who winds up at No. 7. Before Friday's games, four teams from No. 5 to No. 8 were separated by three games.

Brian Schmitz