Heat's Jimmy Butler: Outstanding numbers in return
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Butler (ankle) registered 30 points (8-12 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 13-13 FT), 10 rebounds, five assists and one steal across 34 minutes Monday in the Heat's 106-89 win over the 76ers.
A sprained right ankle had kept Butler out for the last four games, but he looked as good as ever in his return to action, establishing a new season-high mark in scoring while doing with a perfect showing from the free-throw line on heavy volume. Butler had gotten off to a sluggish start from the charity stripe with a 73.2 percent success rate on 56 attempts, but he improved his mark by five percentage points Monday. The strong production on the glass and as a distributor all while committing no turnovers on the night made Butler's line all the more valuable for managers who roster him in nine-category leagues.
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Heat's Kevin Love: Coming off bench Monday
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Love will come off the bench in Monday's game against the 76ers, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
With Jimmy Butler (ankle) returning from a four-game absence, the Heat will opt to keep Haywood Highsmith in the starting five and move Love to the bench. The veteran big man has started in all four of his regular-season outings this year, during which he has averaged 8.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists across only 11.8 minutes per game.
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Heat's Duncan Robinson: Joining starting five
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Robinson is starting Monday's game against the 76ers, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Robinson is coming off a 20-point performance Sunday against the Pacers, and it was evidently enough to help him earn his first start of the season. He'll start alongside Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo.
Jaquez (ankle) will not play Monday against the 76ers.
Jaquez suffered a right ankle sprain Sunday against the Pacers and was unable to return, and he said after that contest that he expects to miss some time. With Terry Rozier (foot) also out Monday, Jimmy Butler (ankle) will likely see heavy usage in his return from a four-game absence. Duncan Robinson and Josh Richardson could be more involved as well.
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Heat's Terry Rozier: Ruled out for Monday
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Rozier will not play Monday against the 76ers due to right foot discomfort.
Monday's game is the second leg of a back-to-back set, so the Heat may be holding him out for precautionary reasons. However, Rozier has been ice cold in November with a 35.3 percent shooting mark, so this injury could be a reason for his struggles. Fortunately for Miami, Jimmy Butler (ankle) has been cleared to return for Monday's game following a four-game absence.
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Heat's Jimmy Butler: Available to play Monday
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Butler (ankle) is available to play Monday against the 76ers.
Butler missed the previous four games for the Heat, but he'll return for the second leg of this back-to-back set. Unfortunately for Miami, Terry Rozier (foot) and Jaime Jaquez (ankle) will be unavailable. For that reason, Butler likely soaks up a ton of usage in his return to action.
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Heat's Josh Richardson: Notches five points
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Richardson closed Sunday's 119-110 loss to Indiana with five points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt), two rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal over 24 minutes.
Despite the absence of Jimmy Butler (ankle), Richardson hasn't been able to ramp up his fantasy production much. He's had a very slow start to the campaign by his standards, averaging 4.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 three-pointers on 31.3 percent shooting from the field through seven contests.
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Heat's Terry Rozier: Held to nine points
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Rozier racked up nine points (4-12 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and one assist across 27 minutes during Sunday's 119-110 loss to the Pacers.
Rozier's cold streak continued Sunday as his shot eluded him once again. November has not been his month, as he's shooting 35.3 percent from the field and 25.6 percent from beyond the arc in his last eight games. His counting stats have suffered too, as he's averaging 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in that span.
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Heat's Bam Adebayo: Strong in paint in defeat
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Adebayo posted 24 points (9-18 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds and two assists across 40 minutes during Sunday's 119-110 loss to Indiana.
Adebayo once again held things down in the paint for Miami, leading all Heat players in rebounds while finishing as one of three players with 20 or more points in Sunday's defeat. Adebayo has now posted at least 20 points and eight boards in three straight contests.
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Heat's Duncan Robinson: Reaches 20 points off bench in loss
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Robinson finished Sunday's 119-110 loss to the Pacers with 20 points (6-10 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds and four assists across 31 minutes.
Robinson saw extended time off the bench in Sunday's contest due to the Heat being shorthanded, leading all bench players in the defeat in scoring and threes made in a 20-point showcase. Robinson matched a season high in scoring while posting his second outing of the year with at least five threes. Notably, all three of Robinson's double-digit scoring efforts this year have taken place over the last five games.
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Heat's Tyler Herro: Lights it up from deep in defeat
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Herro closed Sunday's 119-110 loss to Indiana with 28 points (8-18 FG, 7-11 3Pt, 5-5 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one steal over 38 minutes.
Herro dominated offensively in Sunday's contest, leading all players in threes made while leading the Heat in scoring in a near-30-point performance. Herro has connected on at least seven threes in two of his last three outings and has drained at least two shots from deep in every game this year, contributing at least 25 points in six contests in the process.
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Heat's Jaime Jaquez: X-rays negative on ankle
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Jaquez told reporters after Sunday's 119-110 loss to the Heat that he expects to miss time due to a right ankle sprain, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
The good news for Jaquez is X-rays didn't reveal any further damage to his right ankle. He'll likely be sidelined for Monday's contest against the 76ers, but the Heat's following game doesn't take place until Sunday, Nov. 24 against the Mavericks, so the second-year forward may just miss one game as a result. Jaquez's absence opens the door for more playing time off the bench for Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic and Josh Richardson, and Alec Burks may also join the rotation after being a healthy DNP for the Heat's last five games (including Sunday's loss).
Jaquez has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Pacers due to a right ankle sprain, Tim Reynolds of Associated Press reports.
Jaquez rolled his right ankle late in the third quarter after stepping on T.J. McConnell, and he will not return for the fourth quarter. Given the Heat play Monday against the 76ers, it seems unlikely Jaquez will be able to play in the second leg of the back-to-back. Josh Richardson, Duncan Robinson and Nikola Jovic are candidates to see more minutes off the bench with Jaquez sidelined.
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Heat's Jimmy Butler: Won't play Sunday
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Butler (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Pacers.
Butler will miss his fourth consecutive contest due to a right ankle sprain. Haywood Highsmith will likely receive the starting nod once again, and without Butler, the former has averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 steals and 2.7 rebounds across 31.3 minutes over the last three regular-season games (three starts). Butler's next chance to suit up will come in the second leg of a back-to-back set against the 76ers on Monday.
Heat's Jaime Jaquez: Playing through hip tightness
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Jaquez is listed as available for Sunday's game versus the Pacers despite dealing with right hip flexor tightness, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Jaquez appears to have tweaked his hip flexor against Indiana on Friday but won't miss Sunday's contest. Over his last five appearances, the second-year forward is averaging 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 23.6 minutes.
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Heat's Jimmy Butler: Iffy against Indiana
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Butler (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Pacers, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Butler could return to action Sunday after missing Miami's last three contests with an ankle injury. If the star forward can suit up against Indiana, he will likely reclaim his starting spot from Haywood Highsmith.
