MIAMI — Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro was ruled out for a second straight game in the Eastern Conference Finals two hours before the start of Wednesday night’s Game 5 of the best-of-seven series against the Boston Celtics at the FTX Arena.
Herro suffered the injury in Saturday’s Game 3 win at TD Garden, then missed the Heat’s Game 4 loss on Monday night at the Celtics’ home court.
“I mean, obviously you’re hopeful, but I kind of had an idea when we were leaving that he needed rest and recovery,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “These can be tricky. I know how badly he wants to be there, and that’s why we’re going to listen to him, but those decisions have to be made by the training staff and our doctors.
“We just have to be responsible to our guys as human beings. It’s admirable what both sides are doing right now, but you don’t want to be irresponsible either.
The other four players who had been listed as questionable on the Heat’s injury report were all cleared to play: PJ Tucker (knee), Kyle Lowry (hamstring), Max Strus (hamstring) and Gabe Vincent (hamstring). -legs).
The two Celtics players who were listed as questionable earlier on Wednesday were cleared to play ahead of Game 5. This allowed guard Marcus Smart to return after missing Monday night’s Game 4, with center Robert Williams able to sail again. pain.
Earlier, Celtics manager Ime Udoka spoke about the injuries sustained at this stage of the season.
“At this time of year, injuries are not uncommon,” Udoka said after his team’s morning shootout, “but the number of guys, I guess, on the roster questionable from game to game is pretty alarming. But we’ve been dealing with it, especially with Rob’s situation, for a while. And I guess it’s pretty much day-to-day the rest of the playoffs. So that’s something we have to manage and work around.
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“They are going through their own issues and have blown quite a few guys as well. Sometimes luck plays a role, and health is a big part of that. So we have to be content with what we have. Both teams did it and won with out players, just like we did throughout the playoffs.
Of Smart and Williams, Udoka said: “Both feel better. Marcus still has swelling and pain. So they will test it before the game and see how they feel.
Celtics guard Payton Pritchard said the focus was largely on the inside.
“I think we’re just focused on ourselves. We don’t worry about who on the Heat is hurt or what they’re going through. We only focus on ourselves and what we can control.
There had been rumors swirling earlier in the day, particularly in Las Vegas, about the Heat potentially facing COVID issues.
However, contrary to reports that the team left players in Boston, the team left behind Spanish broadcaster Jose Paneda, as well as a team therapist. Such a player absence would require a mandatory entry on the NBA’s official injury report.
Celtics big man Al Horford missed Game 1 of this best-of-seven series while under NBA health and safety protocols, as noted in official injury reports at the time.