The latest injury updates on the Miami and Denver players heading into a crucial Game 5 match-up.
Heavy MVP Finals favorite Nikola Jokic tweaked his right ankle in the first quarter during Game 4.
Nikola Jokic had to head to the locker room after rolling his right ankle.
He was back on the Denver bench to start the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/8fp9jaKcwF
— ESPN (@espn) June 10, 2023
Despite concern this may keep him out of Game 5, NBA TV’s Jared Greenber says the expectation is the Serbian superstar will play.
“All indications point to Jokic being a full participant in a potential Game 5 closer,” Greenberg said.
At practice on Sunday, Jokic didn’t seem to be participating much but his name isn’t listed in the latest NBA Injury report, so it seems to be all systems go for the big man.
Another injury everyone has been keeping a close eye on his Heat guard Tyler Herro’s hand injury.
It has kept him out of the postseason since Round 1 against the Bucks, where he broke his right hand and had surgery.
Herro has been doing contact work and seems very eager to make his return, but unfortunately looks very unlikely to start in Game 5 as he is still listed as out.
Tyler Herro at Heat practice 👀
No new update on Herro, who is scheduled to go through a contact workout later today.
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/wvg5HmUcr7
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 11, 2023
“Tyler Herro is not listed among the nine Heat players to speak at media stations today at practice in Denver, an indication that the Heat have not, at least at the moment, changed his status from being out,” Heat beat reporter Ira Winderman tweeted.
Other listings on the report detail the available status of Gabe Vincent (ankle), Bam Adebayo (shoulder) and Cody Zeller (nasal fracture), while Victor Oladipo, of course remains out as he recovers from left knee surgery.
Heat veteran Kevin Love missed Miami’s team flight to Denver due to the birth of his first baby on Saturday, but has since arrived and is ready to play.
“Definitely need to get some rest now, get some sleep,” Love said during the media session in Denver on Sunday afternoon. “Everybody’s happy and healthy.”
If the Nuggets are successful, they will take it to 4-1 and clinch the championship, however it seems that the Heat won’t be going down without a fight.
“We are in a must-win situation every single game, which we’re capable of,” Butler said after the Heat’s Game 4 loss. “No doubt. We don’t have any of that. We don’t have no quit. We are going to continually fight, starting tomorrow, to get better. And then we are going into Monday and do what we said we were going to do this entire time and win. We have to. We have no other choice. Otherwise, we did all this for no reason.”
Game 5 between the Nuggets and Heat will take place on Monday, June 12 at 8:30PM ET at Ball Arena – Denver’s home court.
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