MIAMI (AP) - The Miami Heat will be without forward James Jones for three months because of a ruptured tendon in his right wrist, adding to the team's injury woes.
Jones, a Miami native, was signed as a free agent this summer to give the Heat a 3-point shooter the team lacked last season, when it stumbled to the NBA's worst record. He'd been slowed throughout camp because of a sprained wrist, but even this week, the team was hopeful his return would come in a matter of days.Jones ruptured the tendon while shooting on Wednesday.
"Just imagine somebody punching you in your stomach as hard as they can," Jones said. "I felt like I was turning the corner."
The surgery will be performed Saturday.
Jones averaged eight points last season for Portland, and his 44 percent shooting from 3-point range ranked second in the NBA.
Jones is the second Miami player to be lost for an extended period because of injury so far this season; center Jamaal Magloire will miss 6-8 weeks because of a broken left hand that will not require surgery.
The Heat may try to make a move to add a 3-point shooter to the roster before the preseason ends.
