The Heat will begin a two-game road trip without three rotation players, including Andrew Wiggins, who popped up on the injury report on Thursday with a left hip flexor strain.
Wiggins played well against Golden State on Wednesday, finishing with 25 points and 6 rebounds. Wiggins - who is averaging 16.7 points and 4.9 rebounds --- has played in every game this season after missing 17 games last season following his February acquisition from Golden State.
Herro continues to inch closer to a return from September ankle surgery. He could return as early as next week but he won’t accompany the team on this two-game trip to Chicago on Friday (8 p.m., FanDuel Sports Sun) or Philadelphia on Sunday (1 p.m., FanDuel Sports Sun).
Jovic, meanwhile, will miss at least two more games with a right hip impingement that sidelined him in Wednesday’s 110-96 win against Golden State.
Meanwhile, Terry Rozier remains away from the team after being charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with an illegal sports betting scheme.
Also, guard Kasparas Jakucionis is listed as out for Friday’s game because he’s on a G-League assignment.
With those five players out, the Heat will have nine players available on standard contracts against Chicago and Philadelphia.
The Heat is operating with only 14 players signed to standard contracts - one below the league maximum - because signing a 15th player before mid-December would push the Heat over the luxury tax threshold. Miami would like to avoid paying a tax after paying one the past two seasons.
Also available to the Heat are the three players on two-way contracts: guard Myron Gardner and guard Jahmir Young. Center Vlad Goldin is on G-League assignment and is out for Friday’s game.