Victor Oladipo, Miami Heat. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Miami Heat fans are concerned after Victor Oladipo hurt his knee vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even though the Miami Heat won on Thursday night, it was not without a price, as shooting guard Victor Oladipo had to exit the game after suffering a knee injury while going up for a dunk.
Miami defeated the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 110-104 to improve to 27-25 on the year. With Miami very much in a three-team race for the best record in the Southeast Division with the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets, having Oladipo succumb to injury in only his fourth game in Heat uniform is a bit concerning. While it may have been a minor scare, it is still not great.
Oladipo is now on his third team in the 2020-21 NBA season. He was traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Houston Rockets in the multi-team blockbuster deal that ultimately sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. After a ton of losing down in Houston, Oladipo was dealt to the Heat in late March for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a 2022 first-round pick. Let’s hope he is okay.
The Miami Heat need a healthy Victor Oladipo to go deep in the playoffs
Oladipo had 18 points, four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes of action before exiting. By adding him, the Heat now have a second All-Star player to pair alongside Jimmy Butler. However, Oladipo has missed 19 games this season for various reasons, having only played in a combined 33 with his three clubs. As long as he can stay healthy this summer, the Heat should be all right.
The bigger issue for Miami is the Heat look to be the fourth-best team in the East this year at best behind the Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers in some order. As long as Miami can stay above .500 with the likes of Atlanta and Charlotte, the Heat will be in good shape to avoid the play-in portion of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Simply put, the Heat are really counting on Oladipo.
Oladipo is listed as day-to-day after suffering another injury to his knee this campaign.