ducks
05-20-2005, 05:46 PM
IAMI (AP) -- Miami center Shaquille O'Neal did not practice Thursday because of a bruised right thigh that has plagued him for more than a month.
The All-Star center hasn't played since Game 2 of the second round against Washington.
The Heat will be off Friday and return to practice on Saturday. They play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday or Wednesday, depending on the outcome of the Detroit-Indiana series.
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``We've shown in the past we've been able to step up in his absence,'' Heat guard Damon Jones said Thursday.
O'Neal, who also missed Wednesday's practice, is expected to continue getting treatment on the thigh in the coming days.
He sought assistance from doctors at the Miami Dolphins training facility earlier this week, since the deep thigh injury is more consistent with something often seen in football than basketball.
The All-Star center hasn't played since Game 2 of the second round against Washington.
The Heat will be off Friday and return to practice on Saturday. They play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday or Wednesday, depending on the outcome of the Detroit-Indiana series.
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``We've shown in the past we've been able to step up in his absence,'' Heat guard Damon Jones said Thursday.
O'Neal, who also missed Wednesday's practice, is expected to continue getting treatment on the thigh in the coming days.
He sought assistance from doctors at the Miami Dolphins training facility earlier this week, since the deep thigh injury is more consistent with something often seen in football than basketball.