Haslem to make preseason debut Sunday

LONDON - Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem is expected to make his preseason debut in Sunday night's game against the New Jersey Nets.

Haslem practiced Saturday and again during the Heat's Sunday morning pregame shootaround at 02 Arena. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the morning workout that Haslem has been cleared to test the sprained left foot that has kept him out of Miami's first two exhibition games.

Haslem's return is timely. He steps into the lineup a day after the team learned that center Jamaal Magloire would miss at least six weeks after breaking a bone in his left hand during Thursday's loss to the Nets in Paris.

The injury will force Haslem to spend some - if not most - of his playing time at center, where the Heat only had one other experienced player available. Mark Blount, a nine-year veteran, started at center the past two preseason games. Second-year player Joel Anthony and undrafted rookie David Padgett are also options at the position.

Heat president Pat Riley said Saturday that he would like to see how well Haslem adjusts to extended minutes at center before the team determines what potential roster moves, including trades, need to be made.

Sunday's exhibition, the second of two meetings between the teams on the NBA's Europe Live Tour, would provide the Heat its first look with Haslem, guard Dwyane Wade and forwards Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley on the floor together. For now, the Heat still plans to build around that nucleus instead of breaking it up to address other needs.

Forward James Jones, who has been out with a sprained right wrist, also practiced but his playing status will be a game-time decision.

-Michael Wallace

(Blog photo courtesy of Omar Vega, Miami Heat/NBA)