The last few weeks have not been kind to the Miami Heat when it comes to staying healthy. Several key players have been out of the lineup at an inopportune time, missing games near the end of the regular season, NBA Play-In Tournament and postseason.
Now down 3-1 in their first-round series against the Boston Celtics, hope is dwindling for Miami to advance to the second round. Their chances of winning took another hit as the injury bug just won’t stay away.
Per Ball Don’t Lie on X, the Heat have already ruled out Terry Rozier and Jaime Jazuqez Jr. for Game 5 against the Celtics. Rozier is dealing with a neck injury while Jaquez suffered a right hip flexor strain in Game 4.
Rozier hasn’t played in a game since April 7th against the Indiana Pacers. Unless his team can pull off a few miraculous victories and extend the series or advance, that is likely the last time we will see Rozier on an NBA court this season.
Following a slow start after being acquired from the Charlotte Hornets ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, Rozier was playing some strong basketball before the injury. His absence has certainly hurt offensively as another option behind Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro with Jimmy Butler sidelined.
Jaquez, the No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, had a solid rookie campaign. He was an immediate contributor to the Heat, as his vast experience at UCLA helped prepare him for life in the league. Before the injury in Game 4, he has scored at least 12 points in each playoff game, chipping in with production across the board.
He will be a key part of their rotation moving forward, capable of filling several roles on the court. Jaquez can handle some ball-handling and playmaking while providing multi-positional versatility on defense.
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