Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Winslow, Waiters miss road trip
The Miami Heat will remain at a deficit in more than just the standings for at least another week, with neither Justise Winslow nor Dion Waiters traveling Tuesday with the team for the three-game trip that opens today against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.
Winslow has missed the past eight games with a sore left wrist that now has been placed in a temporary splint. By being left behind, it means he will miss at least 11 games with the injury, with the Heat’s trip to continue Thursday against the Utah Jazz and Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Waiters missed his first game of the season in Monday night’s 112-104 loss to the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena, but has been dealing with a groin issue for more than a week.
In addition, the Heat departed Tuesday morning with center Hassan Whiteside dealing with a sore left knee that required a Monday MRI and point guard Goran Dragic with a tender left elbow that had sidelined him for two games before Monday’s return, when he went for 27 points and 17 rebounds.
The good news for the Heat is that guard Tyler Johnson, who required Monday dental surgery after chipping a tooth last week against the Detroit Pistons, was listed among Tuesday’s traveling party.
In addition, guard Wayne Ellington made his regular-season debut Monday after being sidelined with a thigh bruise since the preseason finale and center Willie Reed again is available after missing four games with a hyper-extended knee.
Interestingly, Winslow said after Monday’s loss what he needed most now was practice time, which he now won’t have with the team gone until next Monday.
“I’m in pretty good shape,” he said. “I’ve got to get back in better shape and just do more basketball stuff. I haven’t been able to do much basketball stuff.
“We haven’t really practiced.”
Winslow said all he can do is follow the training staff ’s orders.
“We’re going in a positive direction,” he said. “And that’s what this [splint] means.”
Waiters said he had hoped to return on this trip.
“I hate to miss games,” he said. “I don’t do good with missing games. But I know it’s best for me. If I could, I would have been out there. I think everybody knows that. It’s tough. It’s frustrating.”
Waiters said the training staff wanted to make sure the issue didn’t linger.
“That’s what the staff thought was best for me,” he said. “I’ve been playing with it, but I guess they want to get it in reverse.”
Waiters acknowledged the issue, termed as a hip flexor by coach Erik Spoelstra had grown troublesome.
“This one is kind of lingering, so it’s annoying,” he said.
Whiteside, who came on with a strong second half Monday after a tentative start, said the MRI coming back negative was reassuring.
“It eased my mind a lot,’ he said. “Because it was very painful. It was bothering me, so it’s swelling and I’m going to stay on it and just keep icing it and taking care of my knees.”
Whiteside was then involved in an incident Monday when Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas landed on his ailing knee.
“I watched the replay of when Isaiah came down and my knee hyper-extended,” he said. “I’m just thankful I’m doublejointed. That could have been a very dangerous play.”