Although Riley said he expected Hardaway to be back for the playoff opener on Saturday or Sunday, it's still in doubt.

Hardaway, who has been slow returning from previous leg injuries, said he cannot run or jump and was non-committal about his playoff status. He isn't even sure when he can resume practicing.

"I'm expected to sit out for a week and come back playoff time," Hardaway said. "Hopefully, I'll be ready. We'll see. Jumping up and down, and cutting on it hurts. It's very frustrating."

Hardaway, wearing a protective boot on the foot, said he sat out Sunday not as a precaution, but because he cannot play.

"The MRI showed it's best for me to sit out and get it healed, get it right for the playoffs," he said.

The best-of-5 first-round playoffs series will be stretched over two weeks, which could help Hardaway. Miami likely will play only twice in the first week of postseason.

This will mark the third straight year Hardaway is unhealthy heading into the playoffs.

Hardaway said the injury is not comparable to the sprained left foot that sidelined him for four games -- and, combined with a knee injury -- left him out for the opening round of last season's playoffs.

Hardaway suffered this injury when another player stepped on his foot "a long time ago" and "started hurting this past week," forcing him to leave Friday's loss at Toronto.

Hardaway was placed on the injured list before Sunday's game, which means he must sit out through Wednesday's regular-season finale at Orlando. He would be eligible to return for the playoffs.

Before Sunday, Hardaway missed only two games -- one in November due to right knee tendinitis, one in March because of a death in the family. Miami won both, and swept Detroit in the opening round of the playoffs without him last season.

Anthony Carter will start, as he did for 30 games last season and in last year's first round vs. Detroit. Carter played poorly Sunday (no assists, one turnover, 2 for 7 shooting in 17 minutes in a loss to Orlando).

"I don't know how long Tim will be out," Carter said. "The experience last year helped a whole lot. I just have to keep shooting."

Rookie Eddie House will be the backup point guard.

Hardaway's effectiveness when he returns remains to be seen. When he came back for last year's seven-game Knicks series, he averaged 7.7 points on 29.4 percent shooting.

In the 1999 five-game Knicks playoff series, Hardaway had a knee injury and averaged 9.0 points on 26.8 percent shooting.

Hardaway and center Alonzo Mourning are accustomed to the adversity.

"That's the way it has always been around here," Hardaway said.

Personnel File

BENCH BUMMER: Brian Grant struggled badly Sunday in his first game off the bench as a member of the Heat.

With Orlando double-teaming Heat post players, Grant had five turnovers and shot 0-for-6, closing with six points and seven rebounds. Grant failed to hit a field goal in only one other game this season, going 0-for-6 on Dec. 15 in Seattle.

After Grant replaced starter Alonzo Mourning with 7:19 left in the first quarter, with the Heat ahead four, Miami was outscored 35-15 before Grant left the game.

"Not starting had nothing to do with it," Grant said. "Orlando executed their defensive scheme perfectly and made us do things we didn't want to do. We looked terrible. You've got to worry."

JONES SLOWLY HEALING: Riley said he wasn't sure when guard Eddie Jones would resume starting. Riley said he has thought "a little bit" about starting Jones by Wednesday's regular-season finale in Orlando.

"Zo is ahead of Eddie," Riley said. "When Eddie starts using both arms equally, I will know he's all the way back."

Jones scored four points and took only three shots in 24 minutes Sunday.

"I have gotten out of the habit of running stuff for him," Riley said. "We used to run half our offense for him. We had a package of plays for Eddie that we put in retirement for 15 games, and I've got to bring them back out. He's got to play through it until he gets comfortable. I don't know if we can feature him right now."

Said Jones: "I have a lot of work to do. I don't say, `Coach, give me the ball.' I play in the system."

Noteworthy

BY THE NUMBERS: The Heat dropped to 6-5 with Mourning and 3-1 since Jones returned.

"We were barely getting by most of the year, and it was admirable, but that wouldn't take us all the way," Riley said. "Those two guys have to accelerate their readiness."

NO VOTE: The Heat voted against the NBA rules changes that were approved next season.

"I'm adamantly against zone defenses," Riley said. Mourning said he was upset about the allowance of the zone.