Spoelstra: Beasley's Friday status closer to 'doubtful'

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - While Michael Beasley reported continued soreness in his right knee, the team's training staff Thursday detected no swelling related to the hyperextension the second-year Miami Heat forward sustained in Wednesday's 111-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

With the team holding an optional practice Thursday at Oakland University, Beasley remained behind to take additional treatment on the injury sustained when he landed awkwardly on the foot of Raptors forward Hedo Turkoglu while going for an alley-oop pass from teammate Rafer Alston.

Coach Erik Spoelstra listed Beasley as "game-time, if not doubtful" for Friday's 8 p.m. matchup with the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Beasley was examined by the Raptors' team physician in Toronto, with further evaluation conducted by Heat trainer Jay Sabol in consultation by phone with Heat physician Harlan Selesnick.

"What they determined was that there wasn't anything that indicated we should send him home right now. That's a good sign," Spoelstra said. "Any kind of MRI or anything like that, they didn't feel like they need to do that right now."

Spoelstra said Beasley received "several hours" of treatment Thursday.

"Mike wants to play. We didn't send him home for a reason, that there's a possibility he could play at some point on this trip," Spoelstra said, with the three-game swing ending Saturday in Milwaukee.

"We'd have to test him first, run him and jump him, and see his comfort level and also Jay's comfort level about letting him go out and play," Spoelstra said. "I know Mike wants to, just like he did last night."

Beasley was injured with 7:32 to play in the first quarter in Toronto. He immediately was escorted to the locker room. He returned with 7:15 to play in the second quarter, before finding himself a step slow and in continued discomfort, leaving the game for good with 3:15 left before halftime.

Beasley has started all 45 games this season, standing second on the team in scoring at 16 points per game. If he cannot play against the Pistons, former starting power forward Udonis Haslem likely would receive his first start of the season.

Beasley has not missed a game due to injury in his two seasons since being selected No. 2 overall out of Kansas State in the 2008 NBA Draft. His only absence was one game on the inactive list on Dec. 12, 2008 due to the flu.