Thursday night's opening NBA matchup on TNT just got a bit less marquee -- the Miami Heat announced that both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will sit out the game against the Atlanta Hawks. Shane Battier and James Jones will start in their place.
Per the Heat, James and Wade are considered "day-to-day." Wade sat out Wednesday night's win at home against the Indiana Pacers with a left foot contusion.
Thursday night's game in Atlanta is the back-end of Miami's second set of back-to-back games in five days, and it is also the beginning of a five-game road trip that takes the Heat to New Jersey, Golden State, Los Angeles and Denver in a nine-day span.
The Hawks beat the Heat Monday night, 100-92, Miami's only loss of the young 2011-12 season. James and Wade combined for 40 points in that contest, but Atlanta's fourth quarter proved to be too much for the duo.