If Daequan Cook's leg continues to bother him, it was difficult to tell in his return to the Heat's lineup after a three-game injury absence.
Daequan Cook received more treatment on his left leg Monday, a day after he scored 16 points and was 4 of 7 from three-point range in Miami's 96-92 victory against Charlotte. Cook, who still had a bruised left knee and a bruised left thigh, was sore from Sunday's game but is expected to play Tuesday against Denver.
The Heat did not practice Monday, but Cook was among six players to attend an optional workout. He said his leg was '85 percent.'
Another motivating factor to stay on the court is that Cook is scheduled to participate in Saturday's Three-Point Shootout during All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.
I'm just trying to keep it loose by icing it and rehabbing,
Cook said. I want to be able to do everything.
I was before I was hurt.
Cook also is taking extra precaution to protect the leg. He wears pads on his knee and thigh that are twice as thick as normal ones. It's a lot more weight,
he said. I've got like 10 more pounds on me now.
CHALMERS' AGGRESSION
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the next step in rookie guard Mario Chalmers' progression is aggression.
Spoelstra wants to see Chalmers continue to attack and penetrate on offense even when Dwyane Wade is in the game. Chalmers, who had 16 points and a career-high 13 assists Sunday for his first double-double, often defers to Wade when both are on the court, but he is more aggressive when Wade rests.
Getting us into offense, creating on his own and creating for other people is a never-ending balance,
Spoelstra said of Chalmers. If we can ever get to the point where [Chalmers] is [active] and we can get to a second option with Dwyane on pick-and-rolls, that helps.
TUESDAY: NUGGETS AT HEAT
• When: 7:30 p.m.
• Where: AmericanAirlines Arena.
• TV/radio: Sun Sports; WINZ (940 AM), WQBA (1140 AM, Spanish).
• The series: Heat leads 23-21.
