Heat ready to play Green after incident, ban
Miami Heat guard Gerald Green, who hasn’t played since Nov. 3 after an incident at his Miami condo and a subsequent two-game suspension, will be available to play Tuesday, coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday.
Green, who didn’t play Nov. 3 because of an undisclosed illness, was taken to the hospital on Nov. 5 after allegedly punching a man during an altercation at his Miami condo. He was kept away from the team for a week before team president Pat Riley issued the two-game ban for conduct detrimental to the team.
The 29-year-old Green, who is the team’s leading scorer off the bench at 10.6 points per game, has repeatedly apologized for the incident and has said he was “ashamed” of what transpired.
“All we’ve told him right now is just bring that same approach [great energy and attitude], work to get better, and get back into game shape and then we’ll go from there,” Spoelstra told reporters on Monday. “So he understands. The game will dictate how he’ll be worked back in.”
Green also leads the team with a 41.2 percent success rate from 3-point range.
“I’m not trying to step on anybody’s toes,” Green told reporters Monday. “Those guys have been playing well and it’s enjoyable to watch them be successful. I’m just ready for whatever role I have.”
The Heat, in the middle of a seven-game homestand, face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
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