Jermaine O'Neal questionable against Celtics

MIAMI - Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal, who sat out Monday's rout of the Atlanta Hawks with ongoing hip and groin issues, went through aggressive shooting drills and corrective exercises Tuesday, but did not practice, leaving his status for Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena in doubt.

"It's not a serious injury, but it's a groin/hip, so those are always a little bit tricky,'' coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's day to day. He wanted to play last night . . . and is feeling better.''

With a 10-day, six-game road trip to open Friday against the Phoenix Suns, it is more likely that O'Neal will miss his fifth game of the season, and that Joel Anthony again will start, with seldom-used center Jamaal Magloire also filling in.

Magloire played just 57 minutes this season before hauling down 10 rebounds in 20 minutes Monday.

"What he does is keep himself ready, the consummate professional,'' Spoelstra said of Magloire. "You don't know when your opportunity is going to happen, but it's such a long season that he's ready when it does happen. He showed that."