Hornets' Batum Out, Heat's Whiteside A Game-Time Decision
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CHARLOTTE (CBSMiami/AP) — The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets are preparing to play Game 4 of their first round playoff series and both teams could be without a key player.
Hornets forward Nicolas Batum has been ruled out for Game 4 against Miami, while Heat center Hassan White's status will be a game-time decision Monday night.
Miami leads the series 2-1.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford said Monday Batum was unable to participate in shootaround and will miss his second straight game with a strained foot.
The Hornets beat the Heat 96-80 in Game 3 despite Batum's absence.
Whiteside got hit in the thigh on a pick and roll in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's game and hasn't practiced since.
Whiteside said he will see how the thigh feels before the game prior to making a decision on whether or not to play.
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