"Rafter Alston's comeback with the Miami Heat apparently has come to an end.

The veteran point guard was suspended indefinitely without pay Saturday after failing to make himself available to the team.

Alston failed to report for practice Friday, which the team did not initially disclose, and then did not appear at Saturday's victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

According to the team, as of early Sunday morning Alston had not made himself available other than by text message.

His abrupt departure from the team came a day after he was demoted from his starting role in Thursday's overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Alston, who was signed Jan. 7 to add punch to a shaky rotation at point guard, was benched for the final three quarters of Tuesday's victory over the Golden State Warriors and then replaced in the starting lineup Thursday by Carlos Arroyo, not seeing any action in that game.

Alston was listed as inactive for Saturday's victory. He initially was listed as being away from the team due to a personal matter.

Alston, who had thrived during his first stint with the team, in 2003-04, had expected to play a major role in the Heat's playoff push when he negotiated a buyout with the New Jersey Nets in early January."