The Miami Heat will be very short-handed against the struggling Washington Wizards on Tuesday night at Kaseya Center.
Along with continuing to miss starters Norman Powell (will miss sixth straight game with right groin strain) and Andrew Wiggins (will miss third straight game with left big toe sesamoiditis) against the Wizards, the Heat also ruled out backup center Kel’el Ware due to a strained right shoulder that he suffered in Sunday’s home win over the Detroit Pistons.
In addition, the Heat added starting guard Tyler Herro to the injury report on Tuesday afternoon. Herro, who was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday, is listed as questionable for the Heat’s game against the Wizards because of left quad soreness.
After missing 45 of the Heat’s first 56 games this season because of injuries, Herro has been sharp since making his return following the All-Star break.
In nine appearances since returning from nearly a month away from game action, Herro has averaged 22.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field, 27 of 60 (45%) from three-point range and 29 of 31 (93.5%) from the foul line. Herro is the only player in the NBA averaging more than 20 points per game while shooting at least 50% from the field, 45% on threes and 90% at the foul line since the All-Star break.
The Heat also remains without forward Nikola Jovic (low back injury management), guard Terry Rozier (not with team) and guard Jahmir Young (G League) on Tuesday against the Wizards.
But the Heat is getting back forward Simone Fontecchio from a groin injury and forward Keshad Johnson from the G League. Fontecchio missed the last three games with his groin issue and Johnson was unavailable for the last four games while in the G League.
The Wizards ruled out Anthony Davis (left finger sprain), Kyshawn George (left elbow sprain), D’Angelo Russell (not with team), Jamir Watkins (left ankle/foot sprain), Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) and Trae Young (right knee injury management) for Tuesday’s game in Miami.
The Heat (36-29) enters Tuesday’s game on a five-game winning streak. The Wizards (16-47) have lost eight straight games.