PHILADELPHIA — Andre Miller might miss the Philadelphia 76ers' next game.

No, the point guard wasn't sent packing Thursday before the trade deadline passed. Instead, Miller had an MRI that confirmed he strained his right calf in a game a night earlier and is listed as day to day.

The Sixers believe Miller will try to play Saturday at Miami and extend his NBA-high streak of 501 consecutive games played.

The team also wants Miller, an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, around to help their playoff push toward the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

The veteran guard's durability, scoring and leadership of a young nucleus are just some of the reasons team president Ed Stefanski refused to trade him at the deadline.

"We were never offered what I would call a basketball deal that made sense for us," Stefanski said. "We were not going to do just a financial deal."

Miller's uncertain status meant there was surely some temptation to deal him and not risk losing him with no return this summer. While Miller has never ruled out re-signing with the Sixers, the soft-spoken guard also has never been publicly enthusiastic about seeking a new deal.

Stefanski said contract negotiations would wait until the offseason. Miller's agent, Andy Miller, did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Thursday.

"We're high on Andre Miller. We always have been," Stefanski said.

Trading Miller would have made little sense, especially if the Sixers wanted to make some noise in the playoffs.

The 10-year veteran is averaging 15.8 points and 6.4 assists for the Sixers (27-26), who are one game behind Miami in the race for the fifth seed entering Thursday's games. Unless the Sixers acquired a point guard in a trade, they'd have been without a replacement for Miller, a move that would have crippled their bid for a second straight playoff berth.

The 76ers are hoping Miller won't miss much time now that he'll be sticking around for the remaining 30-plus games on the schedule.

Miller, acquired in the December 2006 in the trade that sent Allen Iverson to Denver, injured his calf in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Nuggets. He pulled up lame as he chased a loose ball and immediately grabbed his calf and ankle. He took a seat on the bench at the next timeout, and Stefanski said Miller had to be talked out of going back into the game.

With Miller, the Sixers could at least threaten an elite team like Cleveland or Boston in the playoffs, just like they did last year in a six-game series loss to Detroit. Even with Miller, the Sixers might not be considered serious contenders in the East.

They sorely need a perimeter shooter or two to be the kind of team that win two rounds in the playoffs and Stefanski said he wasn't willing to part with his young talent — Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams, Marresse Speights — to acquire one. Even injured center/forward Jason Smith was inquired about in trade talks leading up to the deadline.

Stefanski shot down shooters for the chance at keeping his roster intact.

"Can we address it in the draft or can we address in the offseason (free agency)?" he said. "Right now, we feel we're good enough to compete. To get to that level of Boston, we're going to have to get to a higher level."