Winslow seeking on-court rhythm
Out of concussion protocol, he tries to find on-court rhythm
MIAMI — Justise Winslow returned to practice with the Miami Heat on Tuesday and is probable for Wednesday’s road game against the Houston Rockets.
Winslow, who sustained a blow to the head during a collision with Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap on Nov. 5, has missed the last nine games after entering the NBA’s concussion protocol.
Winslow has missed 11 of the Heat’s last 12 games when factoring in the two he sat out because of back spasms before the game against Denver.
“It was a good day for him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We shouldn’t expect him to be in perfect rhythm, but it’s just great to have him back out there.
“He was able to go through quite a bit of work [Tuesday] and we’ll see how he feels [Wednesday].”
Winslow wasn’t made available for comment after Tuesday’s practice.
Spoelstra added that Winslow ramped up his conditioning and on-court work during the past week. The league’s concussion protocol, which Spoelstra said Winslow was still in Monday, requires that all symptoms are gone before a player returns to the court.
Spoelstra didn’t indicate whether Winslow, who was a starter before sustaining the concussion, would start in Wednesday’s game if he’s upgraded to available.
“We’ll take it one step at a time,” Spoelstra said. “I’ll just see if he’s available and we’ll go from there. He’s certainly not going to be able to play big minutes.”
Winslow’s possible return would come in his hometown of Houston.
“He’s a great asset to this team,” Bam Adebayo said. “We’re down in numbers, but to have him back is joyful because his first game is where he’s from and [he’ll] enjoy the atmosphere.”
Winslow’s likely return may come with the absence of Jimmy Butler, who’s battling an illness. His status for Wednesday’s game has yet to be determined.
Butler played in Monday’s 117-100 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, finishing with
21 points and seven rebounds, but appeared to be ill afterward.
If Butler misses the trip, it would allow him to rest until Friday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat start a threegame road trip Sunday, which concludes with back-to-back games against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics.
Butler’s possible absence would also continue the pattern of the Heat missing either Winslow or Butler, as Butler also missed the first three games of the season
after becoming a father.
The Butler-Winslow combination has only played in two games together during the regular season, sharing the floor for a total of 26 minutes.
“Their best versions of themselves also can complement each other,” Spoelstra said of Butler and Winslow sharing the floor.
“The more guys you can have playing competitive, winning basketball, the better. This league is tough, and we’re not talking about being just an average team.”
Udonis Haslem, who missed Monday’s game with an illness, will be available for Wednesday’s game. The Heat will again be without Derrick Jones Jr., who has missed eight consecutive
games.
“Derrick thinks he can go right now,” Spoelstra said. “But based on what happened last time, he fooled us once.
“He’s super competitive and he wants to be out there. We just want to make sure that he’s fully ready to go.”
KZ Okpala, who’s missed 12 consecutive games, will also be sidelined for Wednesday’s game with a strained left Achilles.
Dion Waiters will serve the ninth game of his 10-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team.” He will be eligible to return against the Nets on Sunday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.