Whiteside (eye) has been ruled out of Friday's game against the Lakers, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Whiteside was poked in the eye last Friday against the Celtics, causing him to miss the Heat's subsequent three contests. That absence will be extended by another game Friday, but Whiteside is at least traveling to Los Angeles to rejoin his teammates prior to tipoff. While that raises the question of whether he'll be able to return Sunday against the Clippers, potentially while wearing protective goggles, Willie Reed is expected to start in his place at center once again Friday.