Derrick Jones Jr. hopes to play vs. Pacers

The Miami Heat got some good news today when Derrick Jones Jr. said that he feels “just a little sore” after tests revealed that he had suffered a neck strain in the Heat’s last regular season game Friday. Jones said that he is hopeful that he’ll be able to play in Miami’s first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.

Jones fell down after he collided into Pacers center Goga Bitadze late in the third quarter. He remained on the ground for several minutes before he left the court on a stretcher. He has been valuable to the Heat this year as a lengthy defender who check point guards or anchor the top of Miami’s zone defense.

In other news, Erik Spoelstra said that Jae Crowder practiced today. Crowder missed yesterday’s game after he banged knees with Oklahoma City Thunder player Lu Dort on Wednesday.