MIAMI – Victor Oladipo will not be with the Miami Heat when they leave for a four-game match on the West Coast on Saturday, and more evaluation will be needed before the team knows the full extent of his right knee issue.
Oladipo injured his knee during the fourth quarter of Miami’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night. He had 18 points in 25 minutes, and it looks like he did something to the knee on a dunk with 5:51 left.
He was later chased one possession out of pocket, left the court for evaluation and did not return.
The right knee is the same as what Oladipo injured in 2019 when he tore a quadruple as a member of the Indiana Pacers. He missed a full calendar year and has since appeared in just 52 games in the regular season.
He averaged 21.2 points in 20 games with Houston this season, and 12 points in his first four games with the Heat.
“We definitely need that guy,” Heat forward Jimmy Butler said Thursday night. “We want him back. Play like he played today, make shots, get to the cup, get to the line and get everyone else involved. … We all want the guy to be good.”
Miami plays Sunday at Portland, Tuesday at Phoenix, Wednesday at Denver and Friday at Minnesota. The next home game is April 18 against Brooklyn.
The reigning Eastern Conference champion Heat is 27-25 with 20 games left. They ranked No. 6 in the East on Friday.