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Miami Heat: Justise Winslow hopeful to return soon from injury

By Duncan Smith

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 8: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat speaks to the media after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 8, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 8: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat speaks to the media after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 8, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat are looking to get back to full strength for the stretch run of this playoff chase and are hopeful that they may get Justise Winslow back sooner than later.

It seems like the Miami Heat haven’t been at full strength for more than a couple of games since the 2018-19 season began. Goran Dragic missed a huge chunk of the middle of the season and has only played 27 of the Heat’s 73 games, Hassan Whiteside has missed time, as have Derrick Jones Jr., Dion Waiters and James Johnson, among others.

Justise Winslow may be chief among those missing time this season, especially now with the playoff chase in full swing and the Heat clinging to the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference. Winslow has missed the last five games after suffering a thigh bruise on March 15th against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Recovery from a thigh bruise isn’t a quick process by any means, but the Heat are hoping that Winslow’s return is coming soon. In fact, they’re hoping he’ll be back sometime this week:

Fortunately, the Miami Heat have kept things together in his absence. They’ve gone 4-1 over those five games with the only loss a blowout defeat to the basically indestructible Bucks.

You can only tempt fate for so long, though. Derrick Jones Jr. has been put in the starting point guard role in Winslow’s place, and that’s just not the spot for him if it can be avoided.

Over these five games he’s scored just 6.4 points in 22.8 minutes as the fifth offensive option, shooting 32.4 percent from the floor, 25 percent from 3-point range and just 44.4 percent from the free throw line.

Jones’ efforts have been admirable, but the Heat will be better off when Winslow is back in the starting lineup.

The Miami Heat have three huge games this week, starting Tuesday night against the ninth-place Orlando Magic who trail by just half a game. The week will close with games Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks and Saturday against the New York Knicks.

Next. The Good, the Bad and the Heat Culture: Winslow's breakout. dark

A thigh bruise isn’t an injury you want to rush back from, but hopefully for Miami Heat fans and the organization itself, the healing process runs its course quickly.

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