Victor Oladipo already left a game on a stretcher once. He refused to do it again on Saturday, even after what seemed like a serious injury.<\/p>\n
The Miami guard was helped off the court late in the fourth quarter of Saturday\u2019s 121-99 playoff win over Milwaukee, after the oft-injured guard appeared to hurt his left knee.<\/p>\n
A stretcher was wheeled onto the floor to help Oladipo off the court. He wound up walking off himself, with assistance from team personnel. The Heat did not release any preliminary diagnosis, and planned further examination for Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the stretcher was out there, he was like, \u2018I\u2019m not getting on that thing,\u2019\u201d Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. \u201cSo, we\u2019ll just have to see. I feel like throwing up right now, but I don\u2019t know what the prognosis is. I\u2019m going to stay positive and we\u2019ll just see what happens after we scan him tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oladipo was driving down the lane when he appeared to slip as he went airborne. He landed near the basket stanchion and immediately began grabbing at his left knee, while teammates reacted in obvious disbelief.<\/p>\n
Players, team medical staff and even some of the referees quickly went over to check on Oladipo.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hurts to see somebody that you care about go through something like that,\u201d Heat guard Duncan Robinson said. \u201cObviously, we don\u2019t know what it is at this point, but we\u2019re all hoping for the best.\u201d
\nOladipo appeared in just eight regular-season games in the 2021-22 season while recovering from a second surgery to repair his right quadriceps tendon.<\/p>\n
He was a two-time All-Star with Indiana before getting hurt in January 2019 \u2014 a frightening scene, one where teammates covered his injury with a towel and he wound up leaving on a stretcher. He returned a year later, wasn\u2019t anywhere near the same player and Indiana traded him to Houston in January 2021.<\/p>\n
The Rockets didn\u2019t keep him long before moving him to Miami, with whom Oladipo played four games in March 2021 before getting hurt again.<\/p>\n
It took him most of the 2021-22 season to come back. He got into 15 playoff games for Miami last season, playing much more in the postseason than he did in the regular season. Then came free agency, and Oladipo looked around and quickly decided Miami was his best choice \u2014 agreeing on a two-year deal last summer.<\/p>\n
He played in 42 games this season with Miami, his most in any regular season since 2017-18. His role in the playoffs figured to increase now that the Heat are without guard Tyler Herro for at least six weeks; Herro broke his hand in Game 1 against the Bucks.<\/p>\n
Oladipo had eight points on 4-of-6 shooting in 19 minutes on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\nUn grosso in bocca al lupo a Victor Oladipo. A questo ragazzo \u00e8 capitato letteralmente di tutto #otnba<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/KtBLeHNQT5<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 OverTime Storie a Spicchi (@StorieASpicchi) April 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n