Injuries the story for NBA play-in finales

MIAMI — When injuries affect the Miami Heat, coach Erik Spoelstra almost always delivers the same three-word outlook. “We have enough,” he says. That theory is about to be tested — and will be a theme in the NBA’s win-or-go-home finales of the play-in tournament today.

All four teams — Miami and Chicago in the Eastern Conference, New Orleans and Sacramento in the Western Conference — have serious injury concerns going into their matchups to decide the No. 8 seeds on the playoff bracket. Miami and New Orleans have homecourt edges today; the winners will face No. 1 Boston and No. 1 Oklahoma City, respectively, in Round 1, starting Sunday.

The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler (sprained right MCL) and Terry Rozier (neck) for their game against the Bulls, who had guard Alex Caruso go down to a sprained ankle in Wednesday’s win over Atlanta. Miami is hoping guard Duncan Robinson, who has missed 10 of the team’s last 15 games with a back injury, can play.

“We will do this the hard way,” Spoelstra said. “That has to be the path right now. We’re going to rest up, treat up, rally around each other up and get ready for [today] and again, embrace these competitive games. It’ll be competitive in front of our home fans and we’re going to bring a hell of a game on Friday night lights and do this the hard way. That’s just the way the deal is right now.”

The Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson, who scored 40 points in a losing effort against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night before injuring his left hamstring in the final minutes. On Wednesday, the team announced Williamson would be sidelined at least two weeks.