Miami Heat hit hard by injuries but Dwyane Wade fit to start Toronto game

TORONTO – All-star Miami guard Dwyane Wade overcame a shoulder injury to start Friday against the Toronto Raptors but the Heat were still hurting.

Nine Miami players took the court for the anthems prior to the game. At tipoff, they had 10 dressed.

Out of action were Chris Andersen (knee), Luol Deng (eye), Josh McRoberts (knee), Hassan Whiteside (oblique) and Beno Udrih (neck).

Wade had been listed as out earlier in the day via the Heat official Twitter feed.

Going into the game, the Heat (23-20) had lost three straight and six of their last seven. Toronto (27-15) was riding a six-game win streak.

Still, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said his squad cannot take Miami lightly.

“That team over there is a championship team,” he said Friday morning. “We haven’t won anything. We haven’t won a championship. They’ve won two.

“That should be enough right there,” he added. “They’re a prideful team even though they’re riddled with injury. There’s a lot of pride in that locker room and if we don’t come out and respect that pride, respect that championship mentality that they have, it could be a tough night for us.”