Believe it or not, the injury report could still get worse for the Miami Heat. Despite taking a nasty spill in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers last night that sidelined him for the game’s remainder, Dwyane Wade suffered no structural damage in his troublesome left knee and could play in Saturday’s contest with the Detroit Pistons.
Here’s the three-time champion on the play in question via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
“When you go down like that, I knew I was in trouble,” he said of the non-contact injury. “I was a little concerned. But once they did the test on my knee to make sure all my ligaments were strong, I felt a little better.
“It could have been worse. Everybody thought it was a groin. The only thing I feel is where my left knee banged on the floor. That’s the sorest right now.”
Video of the incident makes it apparent that Wade was lucky to avoid serious injury. Not only was his knee put under an extreme state of duress as he slipped to the floor, but his groin was, too.
After the game, however, Wade insisted that he only feels discomfort from when his left knee hit the hardwood.
That’s a major relief for Miami, as Erik Spoelstra’s team suddenly finds itself in a dead-heat with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics – with the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers right behind them – for the last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. But just because Wade’s ligaments are sound doesn’t mean he’ll play in the Heat’s weekend back-to-back.
He must undergo hours of therapy between now and then before his status is decided, something the 33 year-old has grown accustomed to throughout this season.
Asked about his plans for his 48 hours in the Detroit suburbs, Wade smiled and said, “Treatment. What I was going to do anyway. So nothing changes. Still the same.”
Sadly, true.
“His normal routine,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “This entire year has been in our trainers’ room for the entire day. So, we’ll see how he feels.”
”Story of the season,” Wade said, ”and it continues.”
Considering that Wade had fluid drained from the knee in question less than a week ago, however, this latest setback obviously complicates matters further. He would already have been pushed close to the limit by playing three games in four nights from Thursday to Sunday, and will be shoved all the way there after tweaking his lower body yet again.
Following Saturday’s game against the Pistons, Miami meets the Pacers on Sunday and Hornets on Tuesday. We’ll keep you updated on Wade’s status for the season’s most important stretch as information becomes available.
[South Florida Sun-Sentinel] [Video via watchnba201415]
