Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has a Grade 1 MCL sprain, according to the Miami Herald's Ethan Skolnick. That's good news for the Heat, as it is the least severe type of MCL sprain. There is no timetable on his return, but it could have been worse.
From the Herald:
The Heat will know more after Whiteside's swelling and bruising subsides, and he can take a stability test -- likely later this week -- to see how he responded to rest and treatment.
After that, it's mostly about how he can handle the pain, which can be significant, that comes with the injury. And he would need to wear a special brace.
So Heat fans shouldn't expect this series, but the next one against Cleveland would be possible, if the Heat gets that far.
Miami is going to have to figure out how to play without Whiteside, and soon. It is down 2-1 in its second-round series against the Toronto Raptors, and Game 4 is Monday at 8 p.m. ET. A loss would be close to disastrous.
In the playoffs, the Heat have been 6.6 points per 100 possessions better offensively with Whiteside on the court and 1.3 points per 100 possessions better defensively with him on the court. The Starters' Trey Kerby pointed out that Raptors guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan haven't missed in the restricted area when Whiteside has been on the bench.
Amar'e Stoudemire will start in Whiteside's place on Monday. Toronto is also missing its starting center, Jonas Valanciunas, so Stoudemire will be matched up with Bismack Biyombo.
