NBA Injury Report: Dwayne Wade Sits, Kevin Garnett Sidelined With Ankle Pain, Marc Gasol Out Indefinitely

With the NBA playoffs less than a month away, teams can ill afford to get bitten by the injury bug, but some top contending teams are reporting some of their big stars as suffering with ailments.

Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade told reporters on Monday that he would be sitting out for the second straight game with a bruised right knee after he underwent an MRI for the knee and had extensive treatment on it.

The 2006 NBA Finals MVP has been having an All-Star year but his knees, which have given him problems in years past, acting up could spell a huge problem for the defending world champions Miami if left unchecked. The knee issues come at a time where Miami is pursuing history with a record winning streak. On Monday, they beat the hapless Orlando Magic to extend it to 27, six wins short of the NBA record of 33 consecutive wins set by the 1971-72 Lakers.

Ironically enough, Wade said he bruised his knee against Orlando on March 3.

"[The MRI] was just to make sure there was nothing wrong," Wade said, as ESPN reported. "I knew it wasn't, but I was just trying to be smart. And it helps you right here, too [mentally], when you know there's no damage done to your knee, and it is what you thought it was.

"It's just a bruise. I understand that when you have something that's lingering, it can affect other areas of your body."

Kevin Garnett To Miss Time Due to Ankle

Meanwhile, the injury-riddled Boston Celtics, scrapping for playoff positioning, are going to have to make due without All-Star and emotional leader Kevin Garnett for a while.

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Monday that the 15-time All-Star is battling an inflamed left ankle and is expected to be out at least two weeks.

Garnett sat out Saturday's Celtics game against Memphis and underwent an MRI. While the results from the exam weren't too concerning for team doctors, the team wants to make sure that Garnett, the leading rebounder for the Celtics, is fully healthy and rested  for the team's playoff run.

Garnett was a huge part of the Celtics' 2008 title run and their scrappy run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last year, where they nearly eliminated the Heat.

"I'll guess two weeks, just because we want to make sure he's really ready," Ainge said.

Marc Gasol's Abs Keep Him Sidelined Indefinitely

Memphis is also dealing with the injury bug, as star center Marc Gasol will be out indefinitely with an abdominal tear.

Gasol, who is averaging 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds with 1.7 blocks, sat out Saturday's win against the Celtics and is being evaluated on a day-to-day basis by the team, according to Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins.

"It's game to game," coach Lionel Hollins said, according to The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal. "I have [no] anticipation, I just know it's game to game."

Gasol has been dealing with the abdominal tear for several games.