Heat center Jermaine O'Neal will sit out tonight's game against the New Jersey Nets with a left hip contusion.
O'Neal sustained the injury during Thursday night's loss to Cleveland in a collision with LeBron James near the basket. O'Neal finished the game and had 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.
It is the first game of the season O'Neal has missed, although he was sidelined for two games during the preseason with a foot injury. Backup center Joel Anthony replaced O'Neal in the Heat's starting lineup alongside Michael Beasley, Quentin Richardson, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers.
O'Neal received extensive treatment on his hip the past two days. He was held out of Saturday's morning shootaround to undergo more therapy. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said O'Neal was "50-50" two hours before the game, but the team decided to hold him out as a precaution.
"It was when (LeBron) James took that middle drive and he had a collision in the second half. His knee ran into (O'Neal's) hip," Spoelstra said. "It's just a bruise right now. He feels much better than he did yesterday. He felt like he got hit by a train yesterday. It's not quite the type of relief and movement we were hoping for."
O'Neal was unavailable for comment before the game. After Saturday, the Heat has two days off before Tuesday's home game against Oklahoma City. O'Neal is listed as day to day.
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