Deng, Haslem, Napier out Tuesday for ailing Heat
The Miami Heat are playing for their playoff lives, but will continue to do so severely shorthanded on Tuesday.
Luol Deng has been ruled out with a knee bruise after leaving Sunday's game due to bruising and swelling, while Udonis Haslem will be sidelined due to illness and rookie guard Shabazz Napier will continue to sit with a hip injury.
Centers Hassan Whiteside and Chris Andersen, meanwhile, are expected to return from three-game absences after being listed as game-time decisions.
Whiteside is expected to be available off the bench after missing the last three games with a right hand laceration, while Andersen will start at the five-spot after being sidelined for the last three contests with a calf injury.
Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts were both lost for the remainder of the season earlier in the campaign, while Dwyane Wade has also struggled to stay in the lineup at times.
All of the injury disruptions have resulted in the Heat matching a franchise record by using their 30th different starting lineup of the season on Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Only the lowly Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks have used more starting combinations than the Heat.
The NBA average for starting lineups so far this season is 17.6, according to STATS LLC.
The Heat enter Tuesday in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, 1.5 games clear of ninth.
With files from The Associated Press