A rash of injuries appears to be catching up with the Boston Celtics, who will need to win games without several key contributors if they hope to stay in the running for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The way their next opponent's dynamic superstar is playing, it appears Dwyane Wade has never been healthier.

One game after Wade's steal and buzzer-beater gave the Miami Heat a dramatic victory, he'll try for an encore Wednesday night against the Celtics, who will be without five regulars in south Florida.

Boston star Kevin Garnett has missed eight games with a knee injury, and the Celtics (49-15) came out of the weekend further depleted, with starting point guard Rajon Rondo and forward Glen Davis suffering sprained ankles.

Reserves Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine also remain out, and all five players have been ruled out for at least the next two games.

Although their stretch without Garnett includes a victory over Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland, the Celtics are 3-3 in their last six games and have suffered a pair of rare home defeats.

Newcomer Stephon Marbury started in place of Rondo in Sunday's 86-79 home loss to Orlando, totaling four points and no assists. Davis - starting in place of Garnett - was injured during the game.

As a result, Boston All-Stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each played more than 45 minutes.

"Somebody else has to step up and the challenge for me is not doing what I did (Sunday) with Paul and Ray, that can't happen," coach Doc Rivers said. "... Even in a time of crisis I want to keep their minutes down. We just have to find a way to win games."

The Celtics are struggling to keep pace with the surging Cavaliers in the race for home-court advantage in the East, and while it's possible Rondo or Davis could return by this weekend, Boston will likely have to make do for at least five more games without Garnett, the NBA MVP in 2003-04.

The Heat (34-29) feel they could have this season's MVP, as Wade turned in yet another spectacular performance Monday night.

The NBA's leading scorer hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to tie the game against Chicago, and after missing a layup at the end of the first overtime, stole the ball from John Salmons at the end of the second OT and hit an off-balance 3 at the buzzer to give Miami a 130-127 victory.

Wade finished with 48 points on 15-of-21 shooting and added 12 assists - his fourth 40-point game in his last six.

"If he's not legitimately considered for an MVP candidate, I don't know what he needs to do," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We are currently a playoff contender and night after night, he's making incredible plays like this."

Along with a young supporting cast that includes rookies Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, Wade has led the Heat's turnaround from a 15-67 finish last season. They sit in fifth place in the East.

Wade is averaging 36.5 points and 10.8 assists in his last 11 games, shooting 57.2 percent over that span.

"Right now, man," Miami's Jamario Moon said, "there ain't nobody in the league playing better than him."

Wade, though, will be looking to improve his play against Boston after averaging 14.0 points on 32.4 percent shooting in his last three games versus the Celtics.

The Heat will be looking to end a six-game losing streak against Boston in the first of three meetings over the next month. The Celtics won 98-83 in Miami on Jan. 21 in the teams' first matchup this season.