The Miami Heat have had a lot of success lately and are currently on a two-game winning streak. A big part of their hot run is the solid play of Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside, who have given them an inside-outside attack and connecting well during games with some alley-oops.
The team may not have them when they play their next game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, according to Anthony Chiang of the Palm Beach Post. Wade was forced to leave Saturday's matchup versus the Washington Wizards early due to a left hamstring injury, while Whiteside is suffering from the effects of a left hip flexor strain.
“I won’t be in the lineup against Portland, I can probably guarantee that,” said Wade. “I have time to get treatment and try to take it day-to-day and see when I get back. Hopefully I’m not out too long. I don’t know how long. I have no timetable right now.
“All you can do is do your treatment and do your strengthening and whenever you feel like it’s ready to go, just get on the floor.”
“With strains it’s pretty tricky,” Whiteside said. “They can last a couple of days, they can go away. I definitely don’t want to go out there and make it worse and then it’s something that’s lingering for a month.”
Wade also took to his Instagram account to confirm his injury but also assured the South Beach faithful that he will be back in action soon.
The absence of the two is a huge blow to the Heat, especially with them being in a dogfight for one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. They are currently in seventh place, but the Milwaukee Bucks and even the Detroit Pistons have a shot at overtaking them.
Should they indeed miss the game against the Blazers, Josh Richardson, and Kelly Olynyk could see an uptick in their minutes, with Wayne Ellington and Bam Adebayo also playing more than the usual.
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