AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Heat forward Michael Beasley will miss Friday's game against the Detroit Pistons to rest his hyperextended right knee.
Beasley did not participate in Friday morning's shootaround at The Palace, but did get up a few shots on his own after the brief workout. But both Beasley and coach Erik Spoelstra said it was too soon for Beasley to test the injured knee in game action.
"He feels better and there's no swelling, so that's the difference," Spoelstra said. "We'll have to give him a little bit of a workout before a game."
With the Heat playing again Saturday at Milwaukee, it's not likely that Beasley would get an extended workout under game-like conditions, meaning he is likely to sit out of Saturday's game as well. Spoelstra would not completely rule Beasley out action against the Bucks. The Heat returns home Sunday, but generally takes the day off after a back-to-back set. Miami hosts Milwaukee on Monday, and likely wouldn't have another routine practice until Tuesday.
Beasley injured the knee in the first quarter of Wednesday's loss at Toronto, when he stepped on the foot of Raptors forward Hedo Turkoglu while attempting to catch a lob pass.
Beasley has missed only one other game since he entered the league as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft. He is averaging 16 points and 6.7 rebounds in his first season as the full-time starter at power forward. Spoelstra was not yet certain who would start in Beasley's place Friday, although veteran Udonis Haslem had been entrenched at the position before Beasley was promoted this season.
Beasley wanted to give himself more time to recover and didn't want to risk further damage.
"It definitely feels better than it did initially," Beasley said. "It's still a little weak. If this was Game 7 (of the playoffs), I'd give it a go. But we've got a long season. I just don't want to rush back and be in the same situation like (Kevin Garnett) was, or even Jermaine (O'Neal). I just don't want to hurt it and be out longer than what I need to be."
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