MIAMI (AP) – Heat center Hassan Whiteside was ruled out of Monday’s Game 4 of Miami’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Toronto Raptors because of a sprained ligament in his right knee.
The decision was not a surprise, though the Heat had been listing Whiteside as questionable even after an MRI performed on Sunday showed damage to his medial collateral ligament. Whiteside was hurt Saturday in Miami’s Game 3 loss to the Raptors.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the team is still relieved that Whiteside’s injury was not worse.
“It’s a non-surgery option, which I think is obviously the best option,” Spoelstra said after Miami’s shootaround practice on Monday.
No determination has been made about Whiteside’s availability for Game 5 in Toronto on Wednesday.