Johnson’s ejection hurt Heat
Two technicals in loss at Portland left team short-handed.
MIAMI — James Johnson has played in 418 NBA games over eight seasons. He played in 61 games in two seasons at Wake Forest.
But Saturday in Portland was the fifirst time he’s been ejec ted from a game and he could not be more disappointed in himself.
Johnson was whistled for his second technical foul with 20 seconds remaining i n t h e t h i r d q u a r t e r o f Miami’s 99-92 loss.
Coach Erik Spoelstra had decided on a seven-man rotation, mainly because of injuries, and losing Johnson was a big blow.
“I lost it,” Johnson said Monday following practice. “I messed up, man. I left my guys out there by themselves and that’s the moral of the story. I just wasn’t mentally strong enough to handle that.”
And now Johnson, the t o u g h e s t p l a y e r o n t h e Heat (he has a second-degree black belt and perfect record in 27 MMA and kick boxing matches), will not be available for tonight’s home game against the Knicks after straining his right rotator cuffff last week in Utah.
Spoelstra said Johnson was able to play through the second half of the Utah game, one in which he scored a season high 24 points, with the injury, but the shoulder bothered him during the offff day in Portland and during the game against the Trail Blazers. Although he is out tonight, he is listed as dayto-day.
The Heat, despite all their injuries, were in position to win their third straight Saturday, but after taking a 91-85 lead with three minutes to play, Miami was outscored 14-1 the rest of way.
“We’ r e a l r e a dy s h o r t - handed,” Johnson said. “This team doesn’t use no excuse and I don’t use no excuse. But I know personally deep down, I felt like I hurt (the team).”
Johnson had two points in 17 minutes before exiting the Portland game.
He received his fifirst technical for jumping in to help Goran Dragic, who fell to the ground when he was hit by Portland’s 7-foot-1 Meyers Leonard. His second was just out of frustration.
“I would more say it was built up,” he said. “I was frustrated and instead of just taking it in and being the man that I am, I let it get the best of me.
“The second technical was out of character. I’m more than) happy to get the fifirst technical. ... looking out for my guys. That’s what we do. We’re a brotherhood. I really go hard for these guys.”
Haslem giving back: Udonis Haslem has proven his love for his native Miami by giving back to the community.
Haslem’s latest venture is an Einstein Bros. Bagels at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The Heat forward, who grew up in Liberty City, was at the bagel and coffffffffffffee shop Monday to celebrate Wednesday’s grand opening.