National Basketball Association

LeBron improving, Miller out for Heat

Published Mar. 22, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

LeBron James says he is improving though still dealing with neck and elbow soreness after two hard falls earlier this week.

James reiterated Thursday he will play when Miami visits Detroit on Friday night. James got a stinger in his right elbow after a first-quarter tumble against Phoenix on Tuesday, then had a headache after colliding with Grant Hill in the fourth quarter of that game.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says James has passed ''all the checks with our training staff.''

Spoelstra says center Joel Anthony is expected to play Friday. Anthony was held out Tuesday because of a sprained left ankle. And guard Mike Miller will not accompany Miami on its three-game trip to Detroit, Oklahoma City and Indiana while he continues to recover from a sprained left ankle.