Winslow’s now out indefinitely
A day after being ruled out for Sunday’s game at the Knicks with a back injury, Justise Winslow returned to South Florida on Saturday with the
Heat’s permission, a source confirmed.
Winslow is expected to see a back specialist next week. Winslow missed 15 games with a bone bruise in his lower back, returned to play Wednesday and said he felt a “little bit of discomfort.”
Erik Spoelstra said Winslow felt additional discomfort Friday morning and would not play during this two-game swing in the New York metropolitan area.
Winslow is now out indefinitely. He has played only 11 games this season in the first year of a threeyear, $39 million extension. Winslow is due $13 million next season with a $13 million team option for
2021-22.
ELSEWHERE
Lakers: LeBron James missed the Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City on Saturday with an illness. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said James has a chest cold. Officially, the team said he has flulike symptoms.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Rockets 139, Timberwolves 109: James
Harden scored 32 points in three quarters to surpass 20,000 and host Houston rolled to an easy win over Minnesota.
Houston led by double figures for most of the game and used a huge run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach and bounce back after a lopsided loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
Harden, who had 12 rebounds and eight assists, is the 45th player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points and the seventhyoungest. He entered the game 10 points away and reached the milestone in fitting fashion, on a stepback three-pointer midway through the second quarter.
The announcer simply said 20,000 after Harden hit the shot, before a video was played during the next timeout to mark the occasion. It showed him making his first points in the NBA while with the Thunder, then making a free throw that gave him 10,000 points and a replay of the three that got him to 20,000.
Already without Clint Capela because of a bruised heel, the Rockets lost fellow starter P.J. Tucker early in the first quarter when he fell hard on his right shoulder. But Houston was just fine without them thanks to another big game from Harden and a 30-point performance by Russell Westbrook.