Shaquille O’Neal, plagued for a month by a thigh bruise, did not practice on Wednesday.
O’Neal, who has not played since May 10, said rest and treatment have not healed his injury, and he’s not sure if he’ll be ready for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
It’s not that it got worse, it’s just there, and I need it not to be there,” O’Neal told the Palm Beach Post.
If the game was Wednesday, O’Neal indicated he could not play.
Teammates still insist they are confident O’Neal will be ready for Game 1 against either Indiana or Detroit in the East finals.
“Without a doubt,” Heat forward Eddie Jones said Tuesday. “His mood is getting better. Physically, he’s getting better. I think this time is great for him.”