Heat's Whiteside, Raptors' Valanciunas injured in Game 3

MIAMI — Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside suffered a right knee injury in the first half and missed the rest of Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday afternoon. Later in the third quarter the Raptors announced that their center, Jonas Valanciunas, wouldn't return after rolling his right ankle as well.

Whiteside suffered a "twisted knee," according to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, and he'll have an MRI on Sunday.

"I was just going for the rebound, and I felt someone fall into my knee," Whiteside said. "I don't know if it was intentional or by accident. That's what happened."

The Raptors went on to win 95-91 to take a 2-1 series lead and take back homecourt advantage from the Heat.

After the game Raptors coach Dwane Casey said Valanciunas would be day-to-day. "It's nothing broke. It's nothing structural," he said. "We'll see what happens with the next game."

Valanciunas tried to guard Dwyane Wade on a drive but wound up rolling his ankle and limping to the bench. He had his ankle re-taped before the team made the determination he should sit.

Whiteside got tangled up with teammate Luol Deng and Raptors guards Cory Joseph and Kyle Lowry while trying to get a rebound at the 10:54 mark of the second quarter. X-rays were negative, the Heat said. But Whiteside is expected to undergo more tests.

Whiteside had six points and no rebounds when he left the game. Coming into the game, Whiteside averaged 12.7 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in nine playoff games. With Whiteside on the floor in the postseason, the Heat allowed 95.8 points per 100 possessions.

He is a critical piece of Miami’s offense and defense, and it would be a major setback if he misses time beyond today. Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas has had a good series with a double-double in points and rebounds in the first two games, and he had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.

Coming into Game 3 Valanciunas was averaging 12.8 points and 9.1 and has picked up his scoring against the Heat with guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan struggling offensively. Valanciunas had 24 points and 14 rebounds in Game 1 and 15 points and 12 rebounds in Game 2.

It's the second time in three games that Whiteside has had to exit the game with a right knee injury. He went down awkwardly in Game 1 trying to catch a pass from Wade when he slipped and his right knee buckled beneath him. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra went with Josh McRoberts and Udonis Haslem in his absence in Game 3.

The teams split the first two games in Toronto.

Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.

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