For this first time since his return to the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade won’t be playing.
The 36-year-old Wade will not play for the Heat tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a mild left hamstring strain. Wade sustained the injury in the Heat’s 129-102 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday in the 4th quarter.
Since returning to Miami following a trade on February 8, Wade has been coming off the bench for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, managing some point guard duties and being the player the Heat turn too in clutch situations. On February 27 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wade scored a season-high 27 points to elevate the Heat over the 79ers in Miami 102-101. Wade put the Heat ahead after hitting a jump shot with 5.9 seconds remaining.
Center Hassan Whiteside will also miss his second straight game for the Heat tonight due to pain in the big man’s left hip. Miami will likely opt to start rookie Bam Adebayo once again in Whiteside’s place, with James Johnson and Josh Richardson making up the rest of the frontcourt. Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson will likely be the team’s starting backcourt tonight, opposite of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
It’s unknown how much time Wade will miss with his hamstring injury, but Wade vowed on Instagram that his injury is ‘minor’, and that he’ll be back on the court sooner rather than later:
Wade is averaging 13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in 12 games with the Heat this season, while shooting 43% from the field. Those averages bring his collective season averages to 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while posting a field goal percentage of 45%.
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