Tyler Herro
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After being out for over a month, the Miami Heat will likely see Tyler Herro back in action again the Atlanta Hawks.
The Miami Heat’s All-Star guard is likely set to return to the court.
After revealing that guard Tyler Herro was a full participant at practice, the Heat officially listed Herro as probable to return on February 20 against the Atlanta Hawks.
Herro hasn’t played since January 15 against the Boston Celtics, battling a rib injury that has sidelined him for 15 consecutive games. Barring any setbacks, Heat fans won’t have to wait any longer to see their premier scorer back in action.
“I feel good,” Herro said. “I feel just as good as I did last year, actually.”
Herro has battled multiple injuries this season. He missed the first 17 games after undergoing surgery on his left ankle. He also missed 13 games midseason with a toe contusion.
He’s only suited up in 11 games this season. Even if Herro plays in every game for the rest of the year, it will be the fewest games played in his seven-year career.
His return should provide a boost to a Heat offense that, despite being fifth in the NBA in points per game, is only 17th in offensive rating.
In his few appearances this year, Herro is averaging 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on 49.7% shooting.
Why has Tyler Herro’s Return to the Court Taken so Long?
Tyler Herro
GettyWhile the typical timeline for a fractured rib can be as little as two weeks, Tyler Herro took five weeks to make his return to the Heat.
A league source told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald that Tyler Herro was recovering from three fractured ribs.
Herro initially sustained the injury on January 10 against the Indiana Pacers. He took Toradol shots to play in the team’s next three games before an MRI revealed his ribs were fractured.
The typical timeline for returning to action after sustaining fractured ribs ranges from two weeks to eight weeks, depending on the severity of the injury, according to NBC Washington.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was noncommittal earlier in the week when asked about Herro’s return.
“He will be back,” Spoelstra told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “Yes, for sure. I don’t have a timeline exactly of when that will be. … We’ll see how he progresses.”
Herro’s return will come around five weeks after fracturing his ribs.
The Heat are 25-20 when Herro hasn’t played this season. Role players such as guard Pelle Larsson and forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. have stepped up in his absence.
Still, having an All-Star-level scorer on the floor never hurts.
What is the Miami Heat’s Full Injury Report Coming out of the All-Star Break?
The Miami Heat are coming out of the All-Star break as a much healthier team. In addition to Tyler Herro’s return, no player has been listed out.
Heat guard Norman Powell, who missed the last two games before the All-Star break, is listed as questionable with lower back tightness. However, Powell participated in both the 3-point shooting contest and the All-Star game.
The Heat also listed forward Keshad Johnson as questionable with left calf soreness. Johnson was the NBA Slam Dunk contest champion.