MIAMI -- The Miami Heat are bracing for the possibility of being without leading scorer Chris Bosh a few more games, as he recovers from a left calf strain that sidelined him for Sunday's loss to Chicago.
Bosh's absence was the latest blow to an injury-riddled team off to its worst start in seven years. Miami has already started 10 different lineups this season.
Bosh wasn't certain when or how he sustained the injury but said Sunday that his calf muscle tightened after Friday's 105-95 win in Utah. He has not undergone an MRI to determine the extent of the injury but plans to meet with a team doctor Monday to have the injury reevaluated.
Bosh said he "maybe" could have played if the Heat were in a decisive game in the playoffs.
"We're just trying to see how my body responds," said Bosh, who before Sunday had been Miami's lone starter to play in every game this season. "It's one of those things that can get worse, if you don't take care of it. It can be a lot worse than it has to be. So we have to take this precaution right now."
Without Bosh, who is averaging 21.6 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds, the Heat were overwhelmed by the Bulls in the second half on the way to a 93-75 loss that dropped their record to 11-13. Miami matched its lowest point total of the season in the loss, which was also its seventh in 11 home games.
The Heat have had a difficult time adjusting since LeBron James left in free agency to return to Cleveland. James led Miami to two championships and four straight trips to the Finals.
Because of injuries, Miami's preferred starting lineup of Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Norris Cole, Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts has played a total of 34 minutes through the first 24 games of the season. Wade, the Heat's second-leading scorer, missed seven games last month because of a strained hamstring.
"It really sucks that this is hitting me right now," Bosh said. "It just seems to be a dark cloud over everything right now. Everything seems to be tough. We're having tough times building the chemistry because we haven't had many minutes together. We just have to stay strong, keep our head above water and try to figure out how to win some games."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Sunday's game that he hopes to learn more about Bosh's predicament when the team meets for Monday's practice in preparation for Tuesday's game in Brooklyn. Bosh told ESPN.com on Sunday night that he planned to make the trip unless advised not to by the medical staff.
"With these types of things, you have to be very judicious how you approach it," Spoelstra said. "He was very sore [Sunday] and [Saturday]. But he doesn't remember exactly when it happened."
Bosh had 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 36 minutes against the Jazz but showed no visible signs of discomfort in the game. The Heat had the day off Saturday after returning from Utah and didn't meet again until hours before Sunday's game.
"Usually, you know when something gives, and you feel it over the course of the game, and you can point to a specific play when something tweaked," Bosh said. "But unfortunately, that didn't happen to me. I guess it's a wear-and-tear thing that kind of sprung up on me."
After returning over the weekend from a five-game trip, the Heat were hoping to use their home-heavy schedule the rest of the month to spark their sluggish season. Following Tuesday's game against the Nets, the Heat face Utah on Wednesday to open a seven-game homestand highlighted by a Christmas Day game against James and the Cavaliers.
Wade said he told Bosh to "not rush back for the wrong reasons" and take care of his body. But Wade also said Sunday the Heat have little margin for error and can't afford to be short-handed. The loss to Chicago was Miami's ninth of the season by a double-digit margin.
"We're not strong enough to be without someone," Wade said. "Our team is built to play together, and we haven't had that opportunity to really play together. It's very unfortunate. But like I said, it's our turn to go through it. Other teams have been through it, and no one is going to feel sorry for us."