MIAMI _ The Miami Heat, fighting for their playoff lives, will be without their leading scorer for at least the upcoming two-game road trip.
Josh Richardson did not travel with the team on Thursday, dealing with a left hip strain. He will miss pivotal games against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday and Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
He will be re-evaluated on Monday.
Richardson sustained the injury during Wednesday night's loss to the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena after attempting to block a shot against the backboard on a Celtics fast break. He went into the locker room and didn't return.
Richardson had missed the previous three games with a heel injury.
Wednesday night also marked the return of point guard Justise Winslow and shooting guard Rodney McGruder.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade expressed his concern following Wednesday's game.
"At first you thought maybe he got hit the wrong way, but the way he left the game you knew he wasn't (OK)," Wade said. "We are definitely concerned about him. This time of the year is a bad time for injuries, but hopefully he is fine."
Richardson leads the Heat in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game. He also leads the team in shot attempts, averaging 14.1, and is second in 3-point attempts (6.3) behind only Dion Waiters' 6.5. Richardson is shooting .412 from the floor and .357 from 3-point range, adding 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals a game.
The Heat also will be without seldom-used forward Ryan Anderson, who did not make the trip for personal reasons. Derrick Jones Jr. (right knee bone bruise) is questionable for Friday's game, while Waiters is listed as probable. Waiters had a precautionary MRI on his left knee Thursday, which came back negative.
The Heat hold the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference at 38-40, half a game behind the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic and a full game behind the sixth-place Detroit Pistons.
