Wade says thigh could be lingering issue, questionable for Monday
The banged-up dog days of the NBA season have taken their toll on the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, and they are doing a number on the Miami Heat also.
Dwyane Wade, who missed Sunday's loss to the Toronto Raptors with a bruised left thigh, says the injury may linger for a while.
"Even when you come back, it'll still be there," Wade said of the injury, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. "It doesn't go away for a while."
Wade has been listed as questionable by the Heat for Monday's home game against the Denver Nuggets.
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"The biggest thing you want to be able to have is your explosion," Wade said. "It kind of takes your explosion away, the area that it's in. I just want to be able to explode when I get back. Hopefully by Monday it will be there."
Some solace can be taken from the fact that the Toronto game came on night two of a back-to-back. Wade initially tweaked the thigh Friday night in Chicago against the Bulls. The Heat are still without Chris Bosh, and have lost reserve guard Tyler Johnson for the season. To add insult to injury, the team is playing with a 13-man roster - two below the NBA limit - in order to avoid the league's repeater luxury tax this season.
Wade has missed six games this season, and is on pace to play more than 70 contests for the first time since 2010-11.