Heat's Whiteside won't return in finale vs. Raps
MIAMI — Heat center Hassan Whiteside told reporters he will not play in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Whiteside has been listed as day-to-day by the team, but he has not played since suffering a sprained MCL of his right knee in the second quarter of Game 3. He will travel to Toronto with Miami, but remains out indefinitely.
“I don’t really have a time period for you,” Whiteside said after the Heat’s 103-91 win over the Raptors in Game 6 on Friday night. “I’m just getting better.”
Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas was ruled out for the remainder of the series after he sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of Game 3.
Toronto forward DeMarre Carroll and Miami forward Luol Deng both started Game 6 after exiting Game 5 due to left wrist injuries.
Carroll had five points and six rebounds in 25 minutes, while Deng had two points and eight rebounds in 41 minutes.
“I’m all right,” Carroll responded when asked how his wrist felt.
