Banged-up Wade could sit out
After reinjuring his right knee during Game 4 at the United Center, there’s a chance Miami’s Dwyane Wade could sit out Wednesday when the Heat try to finish off this second-round series against the Bulls.
Wade left the floor briefly in the second quarter, limping to the bench after he appeared to bump knees with Jimmy Butler. Wade got retaped and returned to the court a few minutes later.
“His status hasn’t changed,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday. “We all know what he’s dealing with. He’s day to day. We’ll evaluate him today. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow and go from there.”
Wade sort of blended into the background during the two games in Chicago. He scored 10 points in 35 minutes in Game 3, then shot 3-for-10, scoring 6 points in Game 4.
He’s said to have multiple bone bruises on his right knee, an injury that has bothered him for several weeks. Wade talked after Monday’s game about a tape job that moves his kneecap to a spot where it doesn’t aggravate the bruises.
“Dwyane’s proven himself as a warrior,” Spoelstra added. “He’s helping us win and at the end of the day we’re up 3-1 with a chance to close out. We knew going into this series that it wasn’t going to be about (scoring) averages.”
Hamilton willing if needed:One question for Game 5 is whether Richard Hamilton will get back on the court. The veteran shooting guard hadn#146;t played in the Miami series until Marco Belinelli picked up his third foul early in the second quarter.Hamilton got the call and ended up scoring 11 points in 22 minutes.#147;I liked how Rip got in there and made things happen,#148; coach Tom Thibodeau said.Hamilton expressed disappointment about playing just 10 minutes total in the Bulls#146; first 10 playoff games and disputed the implied contention that he#146;s not healthy because of a late-season back injury. But he kept the conversation positive after Game 4.#147;Just getting the opportunity to be out there, it was fun for me, just to be out there on the floor again,#148; Hamilton said. #147;I love these situations.#147;You never know (about playing time). We#146;re already in the second round. So I#146;ve got to try to catch a rhythm fast. I missed a lot of games. So now I#146;m like thrown in the fire.#148;Bull horns:Neither team practiced Tuesday. #133; Before Monday#146;s loss, the fewest points scored by the Bulls in a playoff game was 69, in Game 1 of a second-round series at Detroit in 2007. #133; While Nate Robinson went 0-for-12 from the field on Monday, four players have done worse in NBA playoff history. Baltimore#146;s Chick Reiser in 1948 and Seattle#146;s Dennis Johnson in 1978 both went 0-for-14 in a game. Boston#146;s Ray Allen, now with Miami, went 0-for-13 against the Lakers in 2010 Finals.BKN26893781Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler drives on Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade during Game 4 of an NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference semifinal of the Chicago Bulls against the Miami Heat on Monday, May 13, 2013, in Chicago. The Heat won 88-65. MANDATORY CREDIT, MAGS OUT, TV OUT (AP photo / Daily Herald, Steve Lundy ) BKN