Whiteside and Johnson feeling OK as trip begins

Pair will get to start together for the first time since last season ended

DENVER — The thin air apparently has therapeutic value.

Twenty four hours earlier, the Miami Heat had questions about Hassan Whiteside’s left knee and James Johnson’s right knee, as they prepared for what would turn into a Wednesday night victory over the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena.

But Thursday evening, as the team practiced on the Denver Nuggets’ practice court at the Pepsi Center, Whiteside and Johnson were moving seemingly without a care, except to razz each other after missed 3-pointers during shooting drills.

“Whenever you go out on a long road trip, it’s a great opportunity for your team to connect, to go through a lot of different things, that we will be challenged emotionally, neck up,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of bringing his players into the gym after the 4 hour flight from Miami. The concern previously had been from the neck down, with Whiteside missing five games with a bone bruise on his left knee before returning Wednesday, and with Johnson missing that game with tendinitis in his right knee.

Tonight ’s game against the Nuggets at the start of this six-game trip could be the first time the two start together since the end of last season.

Whiteside said he felt strides have been made, and for more than Wednesday’s victory snapping a three-game losing streak.

“My knee’s a little sore,” the shotblocking center said. “It’s sore. But that’s to be expected. I’m going to keep getting treatment. It’s going to be sore for a couple days.”

Considering the impact of the altitude, Spoelstra said it is possible that Whiteside again could play in the same 26-minute range as Wednesday.

“And see if he can handle those minutes at a high level,” Spoelstra said.

As for Johnson, the veteran power forward said the knee pain he experienced just prior to Wednesday’s game was a mere blip. He was not listed on the injury report for today’s game.

“I don’t know what it was,” he said of his first absence of the season. “Just tendinitis of some type that flares up.”

Included in the traveling party was forward Rodney McGruder, who is recovering from leg surgery that could have him out for the season.

Whiteside said he appreciated getting into the gym.

“Coach drew up a couple new plays and we came in here and ran them,” he said. “We got that sweat, that lather in.”

At 3-4, there is an appreciation of work needing to be accomplished over these next six games.

“But if we can steal a couple of these real big ones, it’s going to be great,” Johnson said.

Whiteside said he feels like the team only now is getting started.

“I missed a couple games, so it’s tough to say where we would be at,” he said. “Good thing we’ve got 70something games left.” with us since I can remember.”

Asked when he expects opponents to eventually challenge the shots, Johnson smiled.

“I hope not the whole year,” he said. “If you don’t respect it, I know we do. So let him keep his rhythm, take his time. It’s a little bit different when guys are closing out. So let ’em keep sleeping, I guess.”

WILFREDO LEE/AP Hassan Whiteside is two-for-two in three-pointers this season, the first two of his career, though he regularly takes threes in practice.