Expect more Haslem after debut
MIAMI – Udonis Haslem made it official on Tuesday.
He made his first appearance of the season when he checked in for Chris Silva late in the third quarter in the Heat’s 117-108 win against the Detroit Pistons.
“It was fun,” Haslem said. “It’s always fun. I enjoy my job. If I got to go out there and play, I can still do that, too.”
Haslem, who didn’t appear in the preseason, has played all 17 of his NBA seasons with the Heat. He received a roaring ovation when he checked into the game, recorded his first rebound and scored his first points of the season.
“I loved that,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He had a chance to get out there, and the crowd’s standing ovation was great. So I was happy for him.”
Haslem finished with two points and two rebounds in five minutes of action. He played 277 minutes in 40 total games in the last three seasons before Tuesday’s game. Spoelstra said he may play Haslem more going forward.
“I trust him,” Spoelstra said. “He’s still just an awesome example of doing things the Heat way and that’s not just behind the scenes. He does things with detail and intensity that translate to winning basketball. Even in those minutes, those were important minutes and he did it right. The extra benefit is that our young players get to see that on the court. His actions are backing up what he’s saying.”
Haslem’s teammates took inspiration out of the moment, too.
“That’s what I want to be in the future, hopefully,” rookie Kendrick Nunn said.
“To be able to have that presence and just the great things he has been able to do in this organization. I look forward to hopefully be in that position one day.”
Dragic joins growing list of walking wounded: The Heat have listed Goran
Dragic as questionable for the Heat’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Thursday. He missed Wednesday’s practice because of an illness, but is expected to travel with the team.
Dragic finished with 18 points and six assists in the Heat’s win against the Pistons on Tuesday. Tyler Herro, who missed Tuesday’s game, is also listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain. James Johnson is also ailing with an illness but is listed as probable.
Derrick Jones Jr., who suffered a strained left hip against the Suns, and KZ Okpala, who’s been dealing with a strained left Achilles, will be out for Thursday’s game. Justice Winslow is also out and will miss his fourth consecutive game due to a concussion.
Winslow entered the NBA’s concussion protocol after sustaining a blow to the head during his collision with Nuggets forward Paul Millsap on Nov. 5.
“He is making progress,” Spoelstra said. “But you have to go through all the different steps. He is making progress. I don’t have an update other than that.”