PARIS -- Dwyane Wade has added a new position to his role with the Miami Heat: emergency point guard.

Injuries at the position will force Wade to carry an additional load in Thursday's game against the New Jersey Nets at Bercy Arena.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said in his pregame news conference that Marcus Banks will start at point guard, with the rest of the lineup rounded out by Wade, Yakhouba Diawara, Shawn Marion and Mark Blount.

With the exception of Banks, it is the same set of starters the Heat used in Sunday's preseason opener against the Detroit Pistons. Rookie Mario Chalmers will be the first -- and only -- point guard off the bench.

Three other point guards on the Heat roster are out with injuries. Chris Quinn, who started last week, is nursing a sprained left ankle. Shaun Livingston is still a couple of weeks from testing his surgically repaired left knee in game action. Undrafted rookie Jason Richards is out for the season following knee surgery and did not travel to Europe.

Spoelstra said the extra work would benefit Banks and Chalmers, who both had been trailing Quinn in the race for the starting point guard job.

''We talked about that today,'' Spoelstra said. ``So they'll both get a good run tonight and a chance to defend in our system and get us organized. We've got an emergency option. Dwyane Wade. He'll play some at the point guard tonight.''

Udonis Haslem (foot), James Jones (wrist) and Dorell Wright (knee) also sat out Thursday with injuries.

The Heat and Nets are scheduled to play again Sunday in London as part of the NBA's Europe Live Tour.

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