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Miami Heat's Quentin Richardson sidelined by lower back strain

The Miami Heat's Quentin Richardson begins to celebrate during the final seconds against the Washington Wizards in Miami, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. The Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 90-76.
The Miami Heat's Quentin Richardson begins to celebrate during the final seconds against the Washington Wizards in Miami, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. The Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 90-76.
J PAT CARTER / AP
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BY MICHAEL WALLACE

mwallace@MiamiHerald.com

Starting small forward Quentin Richardson missed his second consecutive game Sunday because of a lower back strain, and the team has not set a timetable for his return.

Recovery has been steady but slow for Richardson, who sustained the injury in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss at Atlanta. He landed awkwardly on his feet after a rebound, reached for his back and immediately left.

Richardson had back problems earlier in his career. But he said this is the first flare-up since his season-ending surgery while with the New York Knicks on March 30, 2007.

``This time, I was kind of freaked out,'' said Richardson, who underwent the procedure two years ago at Jackson Memorial Hospital. ``Whatever I did when I landed kind of made it go into a spasm. We've been treating it . . . around the clock.''

James Jones got his second start in Richardson's absence. Reserve power forward Udonis Haslem returned Sunday after he missed three games with a shoulder strain.

Richardson, 29, had been listed as day-to-day, with coach Erik Spoelstra suggesting he might soon return to practice and perhaps play Wednesday at Orlando. Richardson would not set a time frame for his return and suggested he would take a deliberate approach in his recovery.

``There's nothing structurally wrong,'' Spoelstra said. ``He's had back issues before. This isn't of that type of concern. It just locked up.''

The Heat knew about Richardson's previous back problems before the team acquired him in a trade with Minnesota last summer. Richardson lost nearly 25 pounds before training camp. He has averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 10 games.

``I don't have a timetable right now,'' Richardson said. ``I'm going to talk with the doctors, keep being progressive, attack it the right way.''

PICKS FOR THORNTON

Perhaps the Heat should have held onto the draft rights to rookie Marcus Thornton, who torched Miami for 18 points in the first half Sunday.

The Heat selected Thornton, a 6-4 guard out of LSU, with the 43rd overall pick in last June's draft. Miami traded Thornton's draft rights to New Orleans for second-round picks in 2010 and 2012.

• The Heat's trend of giving up big points in the second quarter continued Sunday, when the Hornets scored 27. Miami gave up 43 and 34 points in its previous two games.

``I'm very disappointed in our effort going into the half,'' Dwyane Wade said. That's when you have to buckle down.''

The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald

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