The Miami Heat guard said today he has decided to delay surgery and rehabilitate his dislocated left shoulder with the goal of returning for the playoffs.

''My decision for the next two to three weeks is to rehab with the possibility of coming back, but with no guarantee,'' Wade said. ''I'll find out after therapy and rehab how my body responds to things.''

Wade was hurt Feb. 21 at Houston. He underwent extensive tests and received a second opinion Friday from specialist Dr. James Andrews before deciding he would try to return.

''The fact there's a possibility would give us hope,'' coach Pat Riley said. ''He's a pretty good player. He probably would be a pretty good player one-armed.''

The defending NBA champion Heat, plagued by injuries all season, enter tonight's game against Atlanta at 29-29 and are in danger of missing the playoffs.

The Heat are 3-2 since Wade was hurt when he collided with Houston's Shane Battier. The All-Star guard tore his labrum, dislocated his shoulder and left the court in a wheelchair.

At the time, his was the league's third-leading scorer, averaging 28.8 points.

Wade said the decision to return was difficult, even though Andrews and team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick supported the idea.

''It could have been easy for me just to shut it down,'' Wade said. ''You don't know if you're going to be able to attack the same way and dive on the floor the same way. I'll find out after therapy and rehab how my body responds to things.''