By Ira Winderman

In the small steps that have defined Amar’e Stoudemire’s immersion into this final chapter of career, Monday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets represented a second consecutive stride forward.

For the first time since Stoudemire was signed as a free agent in July, the veteran big man was used in consecutive games by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, when his Saturday nine-minute cameo appearance in the victory over the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center was followed by a pair of shifts in Monday’s loss to the Nets at AmericanAirlines Arena.

“The body felt great. It felt strong,” Stoudemire said as he looked ahead to Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. “A little bit rusty, but I felt pretty good.”

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