As the Miami Heat gear up for the upcoming season, they face key injuries to star players Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Josh Richardson as they begin the preseason. Herro, who is looking to establish his role on the team, will miss both Monday’s public scrimmage and Tuesday’s preseason opener against the Charlotte Hornets.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra has expressed a desire to minimize injuries this season, as the past two years have been challenging in that regard. The team hopes the injured players can recover quickly.
Jaquez Jr. is sidelined with a left groin injury and will not participate in the scrimmage. Herro is dealing with a right groin strain and is also ruled out for both events. He has been listed as day-to-day. Herro aimed to improve his health this season, but this new injury complicates matters as the season opener approaches on October 23 against the Orlando Magic.
Herro’s injury history has raised concerns, with Heat president Pat Riley noting he has been “fragile” after a series of injuries, including a broken hand in last year’s playoffs. Riley emphasized the need for Herro to maintain his health throughout the season.
Jaquez, coming off an impressive rookie season that earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team, is also listed as day-to-day with a groin issue, a recurring problem for him. Last season, he averaged 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
Richardson is missing the scrimmage and preseason opener as he continues rehabilitation from a season-ending shoulder injury. He averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game last season.
As the Heat navigate these challenges, they hope for swift recoveries for Herro, Jaquez, and Richardson. Their first preseason game is on Tuesday, with their home opener set for October 10 against the Atlanta Hawks, leading up to the regular season opener on October 23 against the Magic.
