Hassan Whiteside will miss Game 4 between the Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors series with a sprained right MCL, the team has announced.
Heat’s Hassan Whiteside out Game 4 vs. Raptors with knee injury
Depending on when he returns, the injury could prove to be a huge blow for Miami’s chances of advancing to the conference finals.
Whiteside suffered the injury early in the second quarter of Game 3. He was fighting for a rebound and got tangled up with Kyle Lowry. The two went down and the Heat's center immediately clutched his knee. He was in obvious pain and had to be helped off the floor and into the locker room. It was quickly announced that X-rays had been negative but he would not return to the game.
Further studies showed that the injury is serious enough to demand time off. Whiteside is currently listed as day-by-day, but he could miss significant time in this series and possibly beyond.
His absence is a huge blow to Miami's chances to beat the Raptors. Whiteside struggled at times containing Jonas Valanciunas on defense but was averaging nine points and almost 10 rebounds against Toronto. He had opened up space driving to the basket after ball screens and his rim protection was a big part of a solid Heat defense.
In his absence, the Heat will have to rely on veterans Amare Stoudemire and Udonis Haslem. They lack the explosiveness and size Whiteside brought to the table but will try to make up for it with savvy. Josh McRoberts could also get a look at center if Erik Spoelstra decides to go small. No option is ideal, obviously. The Heat's lack of quality big men depth might come to haunt them.
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