Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ankle sidelines backup center Willie Reed
A Sunday MRI offered a significant level of relief for the Miami Heat regarding the injury that had backup center Willie Reed wheeled off the court during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena.
What initially was listed as a strained right calf turned out to be right-ankle bursitis, with Reed listed as day-to-day going forward, but not traveling with the team for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center.
Reed left the arena on crutches Saturday, without comment.
“I felt bad for him,” center Hassan Whiteside said. “You never want to see any basketball player injured, especially a teammate. I’m glad it’s not too serious.”
Although the Mavericks have generally been playing smaller lineups recently, with power forward Dirk Nowitzki shifted to center, Dallas acquired Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel at last week’s NBA trading deadline.
With Reed out, seldomused Udonis Haslem stands as the Heat’s only available backup center, although coach Erik Spoelstra frequently has gone to smaller lineups featuring forward James Johnson as a ballhandling center.
There had been greater concern with the initial diagnosis of a calf injury.
“Obviously, you just don’t want to think the worst,” Spoelstra said after Saturday’s game, with the Heat given Sunday off. “You don’t know when it’s a calf injury and he’s not able to get up. Part of that was we were telling him to stay down until we can figure out what it was or what it is.” was good to be aggressive again. I mean, it kind of got me back into what I like to do on defense and on the court.”
Richardson found that aggression somewhat limited Saturday by his four fouls. “I figure eventually I’ll get back into a groove again,” he said.
Briante Weber’s
Lakers veteran point guard
Jose Calderon.
“I’m hopeful he can go somewhere where he can get more playing time than here,” Warriors coach said.
Steve Kerr