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Hassan Whiteside intends to play vs Raptors

By Frank Urbina

Mar 17, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) is injured on a play during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 123-105. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) is injured on a play during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 123-105. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Heat plan to have Hassan Whiteside available against the Raptors, but could be without sharpshooter Wayne Ellington after the birth of his child.

With a huge game coming up against the Toronto Raptors, fans of the Miami Heat anxiously waited to hear about Hassan Whiteside’s status. Late in Tuesday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, Whiteside went up for a block and cut his right hand on the backboard. He immediately came out of the game and needed 13 stitches to stop the bleeding.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra alleviated concerns a bit during this morning’s shootaround, saying that Whiteside was a full participant in team activities, and intends to play.

Spoelstra also said that almost everything Whiteside did was with his left hand. Miami’s center will not be 100 percent but at least he’ll be out there. His presence in the middle could go a long way in helping the Heat get an important win.

Presently, Miami are the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference — a game and a half up on the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, and just one game behind the Indiana Pacers for No. 7. Sure, they have some breathing room, but best not to make it interesting with merely 10 games left in the season after tonight.

The Heat also announced the birth of Wayne Ellington’s son, Wayne Robert Ellington III. Great news for Miami’s sharpshooter, but it means he could miss tonight’s game against Toronto. Family first, I totally get that, but with Dion Waiters still nursing a bum ankle, Ellington’s absence would leave the Heat rail-thin at the 2-guard spot against a really good team.

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