Victor Oladipo suffers knee injury

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo left Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers midway through the fourth quarter with a right knee injury and was quickly ruled out.

Oladipo, playing his fourth game since being acquired from Houston at the trade deadline, jumped off of two feet for a dunk, then grabbed his right knee as he dropped to land on the floor. He limped back up the court and then was pulled and headed to the locker room.

Oladipo, who turns 29 next month, missed most of the 2019-20 season and much of 2020-21 due to a torn quadriceps tendon in his right knee. He entered Thursday averaging 19.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season and had 18 points against the Lakers before leaving.

The Heat will evaluate Oladipo’s knee on Friday. After the game, Bam Adebayo spoke about the guard’s injury.

“I’m glad he’s OK. I feel like he’s OK,” Adebayo said. “He just had a little scare.” The Heat went on to win the rematch of last year’s NBA Finals, 110-104.

Why Oladipo is important to the Heat
When the Heat acquired him at the trade deadline, the hope was Oladipo, a two-time All-Star and NBA All-Defensive Team selection in 2018, would be able to return to top form and help Miami in its playoff push.

His performance Thursday — 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting with three steals, four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes — was encouraging. He’s shooting 37.2 percent from the field, 23.5 percent from 3-point range and averaging 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals in 28 minutes per game since being acquired.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said postgame the team will evaluate Oladipo’s knee today. If he has to miss any time, Miami will likely reinsert veteran Goran Dragic or either second-year guard Tyler Herro or Kendrick Nunn back into the starting lineup. Dragic was starting before Oladipo was acquired. Nunn hasn’t been in the rotation since March 26 and Herro hasn’t started since Feb. 3.

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