Mike Miller Injury Stems From Heat Series Vs. Bulls; No MRI Scheduled

Mike Miller's left shoulder injury -- aggravated late in the Miami Heat's win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals on Tuesday -- stems for a hard screen taken in the Heat's Eastern Conference Finals series against the Chicago Bulls, reports Michael Wallace of Heat Index. Coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters that Miller wore a protective arm sleeve in Game 1 against Dallas to keep his arm warm, not because any structural damage is feared.

Miller grimaced and held his arm after wrestling a rebound away from Tyson Chandler with roughly four minutes left in Game 1. He left the game and didn't return, and reportedly left the Miami locker room with his arm in a sling. But he told reporters that his arm and shoulder were OK, and the team did not take X-rays or schedule an MRI for the wing.

Miller played 20 minutes in Game 1, both spelling the Heat's elite wings LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as well as playing next to them. For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier.