Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr stretchered with neck strain
Saturday 15 August 2020 07:54, UK
Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr was taken off the court via stretcher with a neck strain during his team's loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
The team issued a postgame statement that Jones underwent an MRI, a CT scan and a concussion test, with the conclusion being that the only injury was to his neck. He will be re-evaluated again "over the weekend", according to the Heat.
Jones was injured with 1:05 left in the third quarter. Indiana center Goga Bitadze set a screen, and Jones collided with him with his left shoulder and neck taking the brunt of the contact.
Jones fell to the floor and lay down face first on the court for more than five minutes. He eventually was taken off the floor on the stretcher.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was hopeful Jones wouldn't be sidelined long with the Heat set to meet the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, beginning Tuesday.
"He is already moving better. Let's wait and see before we go in full-scale panic mode," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game.
Jones had three points, two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes on Friday before the injury.
The 23-year-old Jones won the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend in February. He averaged 8.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 59 games (16 starts) this season.
