In the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Miami Heat lost one of their best scorers to a hand injury suffered against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Initially, the injury was thought to have ended Tyler Herro’s season and Miami’s chances of going the distance in the postseason, as it seemed like there was no viable option on the roster to replace him.
However, the Heat were able to replace him by committee, with a few players stepping up to fill the void in the scoring department.
With the season on the line on Monday night in Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets, the Heat will have Herro back in the mix, but that hasn’t changed Denver’s approach to the game, according to head coach Michael Malone via NBA Central.
Michael Malone says Tyler Herro returning doesn’t change Denver’s approach
“To be honest, it doesn’t change anything. If they throw him out there, they throw him out there.” pic.twitter.com/IGu1S1AojK
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 12, 2023
If healthy and ready to go, Herro could play a major role in keeping the Heat’s season alive, as he could help spread the floor and give a much-needed boost to Miami’s three-point shooting.
If not, Herro could prove costly to what the Heat are trying to do in their attempt to get back in this series with what appears to be a much better Nuggets squad.
Although the odds are not in the Heat’s favor moving forward, Miami can’t be ruled out in this series until Denver officially puts them away, meaning tonight could be a win that extends the series and forces them back to the Kayesa Center for Game 6.
Any scenario seems plausible, with the Nuggets looking dominant and the Heat being an incredibly resilient team that thrives in the underdog role.
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