Decisive play-in games missing two big stars
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-orgo-home finales of the playin tournament tonight.
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 tonight; the winners will face No. 1 Boston and No. 1 Oklahoma City 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.
The Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson because of a hamstring injury in their game against the
Kings, a team that's been without would-be starters Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk in recent weeks because of injuries.
“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 Friday 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 Bulls-Heat game is a rematch of the East playin finale last year, a game where Chicago led by three with 3:47 left and got outscored 15-1 the rest of the way.
“I remember that plane ride back home vividly,” Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan said. “Everybody was just frustrated. That feeling sucked. I know for me, that's one thing that's on my mind once I realized we were going back to Miami — to not have that same feeling.”
Sacramento got into the West play-in finale by ousting Golden State on Tuesday. New Orleans missed a chance to be the West's No. 7 seed by falling to the Lakers on Tuesday.
CLIPPERS' LEONARD QUESTIONABLE FOR GAME 1 >>
Kawhi Leonard has been fighting “very, very stubborn inflammation” in his surgically repaired right knee for nearly three weeks and he'll be listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Clippers' playoff opener against the Dallas Mavericks.
The fourth-seeded Clippers host Luka Doncic and the fifth-seeded Mavs on Sunday.
“Progress has been made but the inflammation needs to continue to reduce so he can do functional basketball movements,” Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said Thursday. “We're hopeful he's going to get there.”
Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season and hasn't played since March 31.
He had an injection in his knee earlier this month, The Athletic reported Thursday, citing unspecified league sources.
“We don't comment on any specific treatments,” Frank said. “He's doing everything he can and we're doing everything we can medically.”
Leonard has participated in film sessions and reviews of the Mavs' personnel, but he hasn't been able to have any contact on the court, Frank said.
The Clippers sent Frank to speak with reporters a day after coach Tyronn Lue apologized for getting visibly frustrated Wednesday by repeated questions about Leonard, who hasn't been made available to media.
“I'm trying to be as transparent as possible,” Frank said. “It's just very unpredictable. If things continue to get better and better, there's a chance (he'll play).”
Leonard had his healthiest regular season yet in four years with the Clippers, playing in 68 games. The All-Star forward averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
“This guy lives for these moments. He prepares himself to be his best when his best is needed,” Frank said. “If he's not healthy to play at a certain moment, he won't be out there. When Kawhi is healthy, he plays.”
Frank said Leonard's current inflammation is unrelated to his previous medical issues with the same knee.