Winslow out against Suns after blow to head

PHOENIX — Although not in the NBA’s concussion protocol, Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow was held out of Thursday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Heat listed Winslow as being inactive with a headache, after Winslow took a significant blow to the head in a collision with Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap in the Heat’s Tuesday night loss to the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

Millsap left that game — requiring stitches — after that collision, with Heat center Meyers Leonard called for a flagrant foul on the play.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Winslow’s headache could have been a product of the cold weather in Denver.

Winslow has now missed three of the past four games. He missed the Oct. 31 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks and Sunday’s victory over the Houston Rockets at AmericanAirlines Arena due to lower-back stiffness. Also inactive for the Heat were second-round pick KZ Okpala, who is dealing with an Achilles strain, and two-way guard Daryl Macon, who is with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

In addition, guard Dion Waiters and forward Udonis Haslem skipped pregame shooting while dealing with stomach illnesses.

Spoelstra said the illnesses were not related to a team meal.

Forward Chris Silva, who like Haslem and Waiters missed Thursday morning’s shootaround, was back with the team for Thursday’s game, while dealing with a cold.