Heat's Dion Waiters: Hopes to play next week

Waiters (groin) said Monday that he feels "way better" and hopes to return to game action next week, Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post reports.

Analysis:

Waiters has missed five straight games with a partially torn right groin and will remain out for the entirety of the Heat's three-game road trip, leaving the Dec. 12 tilt with the Wizards as his next realistic opportunity for a return. The Heat have been gutted by injuries on the wing with Justise Winslow (wrist), Josh Richardson (ankle), James Johnson (shoulder) and Luke Babbitt (hip) also set to miss the road trip, so the likes of Wayne Ellington, Rodney McGruder and Tyler Johnson are all expected to benefit from extended minutes in the short term.