Chris Andersen is recovering from his thigh bruise, but maybe not fast enough to play on Friday night.
Andersen was held out of the Heat's shootaround this morning and will be a game-time decision for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN). On Wednesday, Birdman said he was improving and no longer walked with a limp.
“It’s mobility,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said on Wednesday. “He doesn’t have much of it right now. It is getting a little bit better, but he doesn’t have a whole lot of mobility.”
A painful contusion has limited Andersen's mobility since Game 3. He finished Game 3, a victory for the Heat, but hasn't played since. He was replaced in the rotation by Rashard Lewis in Games 4 and 5. Lewis scored 18 points, going 6 of 9 from three-point range, in Game 5.
Andersen is shooting 63.4 percent in the playoffs (26 of 41), and, per 36 minutes, he is averaging 11.7 points and 11.6 rebounds in postseason. Defensively, Andersen has been a force in the paint for the Heat during the postseason, limiting opposing frontcourt players to under 35 percent shooting in the playoffs. Since joining the team, Andersen has been the perfect complement to LeBron James offensively while also allowing Chris Bosh to move to the perimeter.
—The Heat was initially favored by six points in Game 6, but the betting line moved to Heat by eight by Friday afternoon.
—The Heat attempted 34 free throws in Game 4, but just eight in Game 5. Officials for Game 6: Scott Foster, Mike Callahan and Jason Phillips.
— Bosh has been quote factory for reporters the last two days. On Thursday, he declared Game 6 was the Heat's Game 7. At Friday morning's shootaround, Bosh said, "I'm not talking about Lance Stephenson the rest of the playoffs."
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