Miami Heat Star to Miss Game 3

The Miami Heat are coming off a massive series-tieing Game 2 win over the Denver Nuggets in the NBA finals, but they'll have to wait a little bit longer for a triumphant return from one of their stars. The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman reports Tyler Herro will remain unavailable for Game 3 due to his fractured right hand.

Tyler Herro (hand) again listed as out for Heat for Wednesday's Game 3 vs. Nuggets in NBA Finals. Oladipo (knee) also out. Zeller (foot) is probable. Adebayo (shoulder) and Vincent (ankle) are available.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) June 6, 2023

Herro has been out since injuring his hand in Game 1 of the Heat's opening-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was previously projected to make a return this week, but the Heat are electing to play it safe with the 2021-22 sixth man of the year.

By any metric, Herro was one of the Heat's key players during the regular season; he finished with a team-high 34.9 minutes per game while compiling 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game with a .566 true shooting percentage. The Heat also signed him to a four-year, $120 million extension in October.

That all being said, Herro has been absent for all but 19 minutes of the Heat's miraculous playoff run. It may make sense to hold him back until the Heat feel their backs against the wall and the need to change their game plan. While the Heat keep winning, Herro can keep healing.

Unfortunately, sitting Herro longer than absolutely necessary could have its own repercussions. At only 23 years old, he's arguably the most crucial player for the Heat's long-term goals, and their relationship could sour if Herro feels like he's being marginalized. If the Heat win a title while deemphasizing Herro, things could get awkward, and in today's NBA landscape, unhappy players don't stick around long.

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