Kel'el Ware
Getty
Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware was sent back to Miami for treatment on his hamstring.
The Miami Heat’s injury luck continues to be one of the team’s downfalls. The team will be without center Kel’el Ware for the team’s game against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, January 24.
Iran Winderman of the Sun Sentinel announced that Ware will miss the final two games of the Heat’s west coast road trip to undergo treatment in Miami for his hamstring.
He last played in the Heat’s 135-112 loss to the Golden State Warriors on January 19, finishing with 15 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes.
Ware’s injury is just another in a long list for the Heat throughout the season. Key players, including Herro, center Bam Adebayo, guard Norman Powell, among others, have missed significant time.
Before Ware’s injury, he was considered one of the healthiest players on the team. The last two games that he’s missed with a hamstring injury are the only games he hasn’t played in this season.
In addition to Ware missing the Heat’s game against the Jazz, Heat guard Tyler Herro has also been ruled out with a rib injury.
Herro was ruled out at the start of the Heat’s five game west coast trip as he underwent an MRI for his rib injury in Miami.
This season has been arguably the most inconsistent of Herro’s career in terms of remaining healthy and staying on the court.
He’s only played in 11 of the Heat’s 45 games this season, and is on pace for a career-low in games played. His previous fewest games played in a season is 42 games in 2023-2024.
The Miami Heat Could Also be Without Two Key Players Against the Jazz
Davion Mitchell
GettyThe Miami Heat could be without Davion Mitchell, who missed the team’s last game with a shoulder injury.
In addition to not having Kel’el Ware or Tyler Herro against the Utah Jazz, the Heat could also be without two key additional starters.
Norman Powell and guard Davion Mitchell are both listed as questionable to play. Powell is battling lower back tightness, while Mitchell is battling a shoulder injury he sustained against the Phoenix Suns on January 13.
Mitchell missed two games with the shoulder injury before returning against the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings. However, he didn’t play in the Heat’s last game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Powell has been dealing with back pain throughout much of the season, but continues to push through and keep playing as he looks for his first NBA All-Star appearance.
The Heat will likely have both Powell and Mitchell for the game against the Jazz.
The Jazz will be without forward Lauri Markannen against the Heat, as he is dealing with an illness and reconditioning.
Can the Miami Heat Break the Pattern of Inconsistency
The Miami Heat have been one of the most back-and-forth teams in the NBA this season. The team has been in a pattern of winning and then losing for seven consecutive games.
An opportunity to break that streak comes over the next two games when the Heat play a back-to-back against the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns.
Both teams will be without their franchise stars, as Lauri Markannen and Suns guard Devin Booker will likely both be out against the Heat.