MIAMI, FL - MARCH 15: Dion Waiters #11 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 15, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)Issac Baldizon/Getty Images

Dion Waiters Suffers Ankle Injury vs. Timberwolves

Joseph ZuckerMar 17, 2017

Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters suffered a left ankle injury Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley reported.

The Heat announced Waiters won't return to the game. The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman reported X-rays on Waiters' ankle were negative.

On Saturday, head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters Waiters would not be receiving an MRI, and added there was no timeline for his return.

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Before the injury, the 25-year-old was enjoying a resurgent 2016-17 season. He's averaging a career-high 16.1 points per game, and his 42.1 field-goal percentage is his second-best to date.

The Heat remain in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. With a 33-35 record, they're tied with the eighth-seeded Detroit Pistons.

Should Waiters be out for an extended period of time, though, Miami's postseason hopes could take a hit. No team can afford to be without its best scorers this late into the season.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra will likely turn to Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson to fill in for Waiters at 2-guard until he's healthy enough to return to the floor.