Wednesday

Heat's Allen, Andersen iffy for game five


Miami Heat reserves Ray Allen and Chris "Birdman" Andersen are questionable for game five of the Eastern Conference Finals because of injuries.

Allen suffered a bruised hip and thigh while running through a screen in the second half of the Heat's 102-90 win in Game 4 on Monday night (Tuesday, PHL time) in Miami.

Andersen is dealing with a bruised thigh sustained in a collision with Heat guard Dwyane in game three on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time).

Both received extensive treatment for their injuries. Andersen did not play Monday night (Tuesday, PHL time). Both were expected to travel to Indianapolis for game five.

The Heat, leading 3-1, will attempt to close out the best-of-seven series on Wednesday night (Thursday, PHL time) in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

"He's the human bruise, so he has a lot of different things going on all over his body, and he's been able to play through all of that," Spoelstra said of Andersen. "He's a tough guy. We all know that. He plays through pain. But you have to understand the difference between pain and injury."

Andersen is averaging 6.7 points and 7.7 rebounds off the bench in the Eastern Conference Finals. Allen is the Heat's best outside shooting threat, hitting 44.4 percent on three-pointers and averaging 10 points and 3.5 rebounds against the Pacers.

If the Heat win game five, they would advance to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive season. The Pacers, meanwhile, are facing elimination.

"Naturally, you're going to get incredible urgency coming from their side," Spoelstra said of the Pacers. - Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com