Surgery to keep Heat guard Oladipo from NBA playoffs

MANILA, Philippines – Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo is to undergo season-ending surgery on his right quadriceps tendon and will miss the NBA playoffs, the team announced Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).

Two-time NBA All-Star Oladipo has averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game this season for three clubs.

It's the same tendon Oladipo ruptured in January 2019, forcing season-ending surgery when he was with the Indiana Pacers.

Oladipo, 29, played nine games for the Pacers this season before being traded to Houston and played 20 games for the Rockets before being traded on March 25 to Miami, where he played only four games before being sidelined last month.

It's a blow for the Heat, who have clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot at 38-31, as they fight for playoff position.

Miami is in the fifth spot, trailing Atlanta but leading New York thanks to tie-breakers.

But the Heat finish the season with a home game Thursday against conference leader Philadelphia and road contests Saturday at Milwaukee and Sunday at Detroit.