NBA Rumors: Miami Heat reportedly fear that Dion Waiters could miss the remainder of the regular season with a bad ankle injury
The Miami Heat, who are in the midst of a real battle for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, might have to do the heavy lifting without one of their best players.
According to the Miami Heat Beat, a connected Heat blog, it’s feared that Dion Waiters could miss the remainder of the regular season (at least).
Waiters injured his ankle last week and has been on crutches since the injury. The Miami Heat have not given a timetable for his possible return. However, per this report, he could miss anywhere between 6-8 weeks – if the injury is as bad as the Heat believe it to be.
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"[via Miami Heat Beat]Sources tell Miami Heat Beat that the team fears Waiters’ injury is a grade 3 ankle sprain, a complete tear of the ligament, one that would require a six-to-eight week recovery period that would keep him out for at least the remainder of the regular season. An MRI has yet to be scheduled because of swelling."
Waiters has been public in saying that the goal is to return before the end of the regular season, but the fact that the team has not offered a concreted timeline has to be concerning.
This is a crushing blow to the Heat, who have won 23 of their last 29 games. Miami, who was once 11-30 at one point this season, sits tied for the 8th seed and half a game back of the 7th seed. The playoffs are in reach. Although, losing their second best player on the team (at least this season) is not ideal.
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In arguably the best season of his career, Waiters is averaging 16 points, four assists and three rebounds per game. He’s also shooting a career-high 40 percent from three-point range.