Based on the precedent set only a week ago, Dorell Wright likely will miss at least the next two games with the Heat. That’s the punishment the Timberwolves gave to center Al Jefferson after his recent DUI arrest.

There is no issue with Wright being out at 3:30 a.m. If you got out of work after 11 p.m., there is a chance you would at least be up that late, especially with the next day off. Thursday essentially was a weekend day for the Heat, with no practice scheduled.

Dorell Wright figures to be a spectator for a while.

But DUI is not a team matter, it’s a community concern.

So that presents a team already with limited depth with even greater limits.

Perhaps this brings Daequan Cook out of the deep freeze.

Perhaps James Jones gets to continue the 3-point run that he began Wednesday against the Clippers, with the team’s move to a zone defense making it easier to utilize Jones.

Perhaps there will be minutes for Michael Beasley at small forward.

And this should at least mean the opportunity for Yakhouba Diawara to again put on a uniform.

As it is, it has been a somewhat shaky run for Wright since being held out Saturday against the Hawks due to swelling in his surgical left knee.

He has shot 0 for 4 in each of the two games since, with just three rebounds and one assist in 40 total minutes.

Just three weeks ago, Pat Riley saw enough in Wright that he persuaded owner Micky Arison at the trading deadline to forgo a potential $7 million in luxury-tax savings to retain the sixth-year forward, an impending free agent, for the balance of the season.

Since then, the payoff has been limited.

There is not a single unimportant day the balance of this season for the Heat.

It would be nice if everyone got that message.

Q: You mentioned in your blog that Wade’s number will retire to the rafters no matter what happens. That is just ridiculous to me, considering if he bolts on the organization. Please explain how you came to that conclusion? – Max.

A: Dwyane led the team to its first title, was MVP of the Finals, MVP of the All-Star Game, All-NBA and played here seven seasons so far, which already puts him ahead of the Tim Hardaway curve. Tim played here only six. Or do you want to take down Tim’s banner?

Q: I was at the game in Charlotte and it seemed to me the refs were eating their whistles when it came to the Heat. I thought because of the ownership change in Charlotte, it might be what league wants, the Bobcats in the playoffs. Your thoughts? — J.A.

A: I wouldn’t go that far. But I do think it’s odd to have Michael Jordan sitting at the end of your bench. There is no doubt he is a compelling figure. It just doesn’t seem like that’s where an owner or lead executive should be situated. As for the whistle that night? Yes, I do think Dwyane had more than a few legitimate gripes, and it seemed as if Dan Crawford and David Jones couldn’t get on the same page. Of course, the numbers turned around for the Heat against the Clippers, so perhaps it’s just the cycle of NBA life.

Q: As a ticket-season holder, I hope not to see Spo as a coach next summer again. — Alex.

A: It’s interesting, I can’t tell you how many of these I get a day. Honestly, I have no clue if you are a season-ticket holder. But if you are, that means you have an account executive, so let them know how you feel. I neither hire nor fire coaches, but rather offer my perspective.

Q: Do you think Beasley should have played in the fourth quarter against the Bobcats? — Curt.

A: Yes, at least at the times when scoring was needed, like down by two in the final seconds. Yet, when they were down by three, I would have subbed in James Jones at that stage.

Q: I was checking out all the point guards that will be free agents this summer and it seems to me that Steve Blake is as good as it gets. — Kevin.

A: Which is why I think that goal is more likely to be accomplished in a trade. I mean look at the Bobcats, Felton or Augustin would be a significant upgrade here.

Observations from Wednesday’s 108-97 victory over the Clippers at AmericanAirlines Arena:

• Clean and efficient. Exactly what was needed.
• Perhaps this homecourt might just provide a payoff. That’s four in a row at AmericanAirlines Arena.
• Still there was no need to pull Dwyane Wade so early. Absolutely ridiculous to allow the Clippers to make it a game at the end, with a chance to cut it to six.
• The Clippers arrived as advertised, missing nine of their first 10 shots and falling behind 14-3.
• Even though it was the second night of a back-to-back, the Heat came out pressing and trapping, an approach that energized the early effort.
• But the Heat then seemed to lose interest, creating yet another meandering exercise in front of a small and unenthusiastic crowd.
  

  Dwyane Wade attacks the paint. (Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel)

• The Heat made Rasual Butler feel like it was some sort of welcome-back testimonial, with the former Heat forward closing the first quarter with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
• And he just kept going from there, with Quentin Richardson not catching on.
• Shifted to shooting guard amid the Clippers’ injury woes, Baron Davis showed little desire in having to defend Wade.
• Wade led the Heat with 27 points, sitting out the fourth quarter.
• Jamaal Magloire played as the Heat’s first center off the bench, throwing his weight around. With Magloire, that’s all you can ask.
• Magloire tied his season high with three blocked shots.
• A Udonis Haslem layup late in the first quarter was the 5,000th point of his career.
• Steve Blake might work well as an offseason option at point guard.
• Erik Spoelstra did not make it sound as if the Heat was seriously considering a roster replacement for Rafer Alston. “You’re weighing whether bringing somebody in can actually help, whether it might be able to be a development player, somebody you can secure for the summer,” he said. “You’re also weighing whether that person can disrupt the continuity, based on their expectations.”
• A pretty good duel early between Drew Gooden and Jermaine O’Neal. With Gooden opening 1 for 7 and O’Neal 1 of 6. O’Neal eventually came around. Gooden didn’t, finishing 1 of 9.
• Clippers center Chris Kaman did not score his first points until converting a layup with 9:44 left in the third quarter.
• Thunder coach Scott Brooks banned his team from alley-oop plays for the first half of the season. Perhaps the Heat should now adopt that approach, with some of the over-the-top attempts with Michael Beasley.
• Mario Chalmers’ stand-still 3-point shot remains one of the most automatic shots for the Heat.
• A left thigh contusion sidelined Michael Beasley in the third quarter.
• James Jones finally did something with his playing time, as Daequan Cook remains in the deep freeze.