Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside will be out for the next week or two after further tests revealed a left knee bone bruise, according to a team report. The big man is expected to begin a rehabilitation program immediately that includes strength and conditioning.
Whiteside previously had complained about constant pain in his knee, asking to get checked out again as his knee didn't respond with the usual explosiveness ever since coming back from a five-game absence after collecting 26 points and 22 rebounds in the season-opener.
The Heat have faced their fair share of problems as well, struggling to get to a fast start — now 10-11 after two straight losses; the latest without their big force in the middle.
Bone bruises can pose a complicated issue to come back from, especially for a 7-footer like Hassan Whiteside who relies a lot in his athleticism and exploding out of his rebounding stance to ensnare boards at a high rate.
Whiteside has played in 15 of the first 21 Heat games this season, averaging 14.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 26.8 minutes per game, while shooting 58.1 percent from the field. The 7-footer ranks third in rebounds and is tied for ninth in blocks per game.
Expect rookie Bam Adebayo to get the duties at center in his absence.
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