MIAMI _ The Miami Heat continue to find themselves in early-season limbo when it comes to a true portrayal of their roster.
As forward James Johnson and guard Dion Waiters continue their ongoing rehabilitation from surgery _ Johnson from a May hernia procedure, Waiters from a January ankle operation _ the Heat continue to find themselves four players down from their anticipated core.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said in advance of Saturday's home opener against the Charlotte Hornets that forward Justise Winslow would miss his third consecutive game due to an ongoing hamstring issue, with Wayne Ellington also still dealing with ankle soreness that has lingered from training camp.
Both Winslow and Ellington participated in Saturday morning's non-contact shootaround at AmericanAirlines Arena, but with three days off before the Heat next play, the target return for both appears to be Wednesday's game against the visiting New York Knicks.
"They're making a lot of progress," Spoelstra said. "It just makes more sense to wait. Hopefully they can get a full practice in. We'll reevaluate from there."
The team has offered no timetable for the return of Johnson and Waiters, other than their rehabilitation has been productive.
"They're able to both do a lot more, so I'm encouraged by it," Spoelstra said. "There's not a timetable on either one of 'em. But as long as they're making progress, we're good."
The Heat have given Derrick Jones Jr. and Rodney McGruder extended playing time in the absences of the four sidelined players, with each producing a career scoring high in Thursday's victory over the Washington Wizards.
