Injuries key to must-wins
MIAMI — When injuries affect the 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 on Friday night.
All four teams — the Heat and Bulls in the Eastern Conference, Pelicans and Kings in the Western Conference — have serious injury concerns going into their matchups to decide the No. 8 seeds on the playoff bracket. The Heat and Pelicans have home-court edges Friday; the winners will face the top-seeded Celtics and Thunder 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 the Hawks. The Heat are 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.
Williamson is expected to be out about two weeks.
“We will do this the hard way,” Spoelstra said of the Heat’s situation. “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.”
Butler’s injury may end up one of or the most impactful injuries of these playoffs.
ESPN reported Thursday that the six-time All-Star is expected to be sidelined for several weeks because of the knee injury he suffered in Wednesday’s loss to the 76ers.
The Bulls-Heat game is a rematch of the East play-in finale last year, a game where the Bulls 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.”
The Kings got into the West play-in finale by ousting the Warriors on Tuesday.
The Pelicans missed a chance to be the West’s No. 7 seed by falling to the Lakers on Tuesday.