Knicks' Derrick Rose leaves in third quarter vs. Heat with back spasms

New York Knickspoint guard Derrick Rose left Tuesday's 114-103 win over the Miami Heat in the third quarter with back spasms and did not return.

The severity of Rose's back issue was unclear, though the point guard told reporters after the game it had "calmed down."

"He says it's tight," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters. "It kind of goes from his groin to his lower back, so hopefully they'll give him some treatment after the game and ... we'll see if he can be all right for tomorrow night."

Rose said after the game that there was no structural issue with his back. He hoped to play in the Knicks' next game -- at home against theCleveland Cavalierson Wednesday -- but noted that he'd be "smart" about it.

"It calmed down, it just spasmed. Usually when you have back problems, or back spasms, it comes from somewhere else and tonight my right side, my right leg, everything was fatiguing kind of quick," Rose said, adding that it was a muscular issue. "Tomorrow, we'll be able to tell what it is."

Rose said that he was in some discomfort before the game. He left the court midway through the third quarter after scoring 10 points and making three assists.

"I think one of the plays that I tried to go up, I had no lift to my layup," Rose said. "That's when I knew that I had to get pulled or at least see what was going on."

The 28-year-old guard had been healthy and productive for the Knicks prior to the back spasm flare-up on Tuesday.

In his first 20 games of the season, Rose averaged 17 points, 4.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds for New York (12-9).

Rose has a long injury history, though not related to his back.

Entering this season, the 2011 NBA MVP had played just 39 percent of his games in the previous four seasons due to various injuries, including three significant knee ailments.