Heat center Jermaine O'Neal tried to play in Sunday's Game 7 against the Hawks, but was unable to in the wake of a concussion suffered in Game 5.

"The doctors didn't think I was going to be able to play based off the (pre-game) exams," O'Neal said.

O'Neal played less than a minute, launching an airball and committing two fouls.

"The pace of the game was really quick," he said.

O'Neal sustained the concussion when he was elbowed by Atlanta center Zaza Pachulia late in Game 5, and he missed Game 6.