Overview
- Jaquez exited in the first half with a sprained right ankle and was ruled out after initially being listed as likely to return, the team announced.
- The third-year wing has led Miami’s bench all season, averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists while topping the NBA with 530 points off the bench.
- Head coach Erik Spoelstra said Jaquez is deserving of Sixth Man of the Year, with Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell publicly backing his candidacy.
- The Heat also dealt with other health concerns in the game as Norman Powell briefly left with leg soreness, Nikola Jovic took a knock to his quad, and Pelle Larsson sat with a sprained ankle.
- Around the roster, Zach Lowe reports other teams have inquired about Bam Adebayo and have been told no, and the team is preparing for Tyler Herro’s return from a toe contusion.