Heat's Bosh out Indefinitely with Abdominal Strain
Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh has been sidelined indefinitely with a strained abdominal muscle and his teammates are not expecting him to return in their ongoing NBA playoff series against Indiana.
The NBA team announced Bosh's status on Monday after the results of an MRI exam were studied.
Bosh suffered the injury in the second quarter of Miami's 95-86 playoff victory over visiting Indiana on Sunday in the opener of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round series. Game two is on Tuesday at Miami.
"The season has to be extended in order for me to play again," Bosh said.
Heat star player and 2011-2012 NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James said the Heat are not planning to have Bosh back until the next round, if the Heat make it that far.
"We're moving on as though he doesn't return this series," James said. "Guys will have to fill their roles. It's not deflating for us. It does stink, but we look forward to the challenge."
Bosh averaged 18.0 points and 7.9 rebounds a game during the season and will be missed inside on defense as well.
James will likely see more time at power forward in Bosh's absence, with the pressure on James and guard Dwyane Wade to ignite a scoring spark for the Heat.
"It is unfortunate Chris went down," Wade said.
Frenchman Ronny Turiaf and Joel Anthony will probably get more playing time for the Heat with Bosh on the sidelines.
Bosh, who had 13 points and five rebounds on Sunday, slammed down a dunk 66 seconds before half-time but landed awkwardly on the court, left the game after making two free throws and did not return.
"This is something we are taking day by day," Bosh said. "It's not the worst thing that could happen and that's the good news. Nothing would surprise me."
The Heat are the top remaining seed in the East playoffs after the first-round elimination of Chicago by bottom-seed Philadelphia.
The Bulls were undone after losing playmaker Derrick Rose, last season's NBA Most Valuable Player, to an injury in their playoff opener.
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/40271 |