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NBA Rumors: Tyler Herro Status For Game 3 Downgraded to Game-Time Decision

The Miami Heat evened their 2023 NBA finals series at one game apiece with a 111-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. Now, there are reports that the Heat may be getting Tyler Herro back for Game 3 on Wednesday night in Miami.

NBA Rumors: Heat Insider Says Tyler Herro May Be “Good To Go” For Heat For Game 3

Down eight points heading into the fourth quarter, the Heat outscored the Nuggets 36-25 in the final 12 minutes. Miami started the fame on a 17-5 run and led by as many as 12 in the quarter.

However, the Nuggets fought back and nearly tied the game on a Jamal Murray 3-pointer at the buzzer. Miami produced the most efficient quarter in the NBA this season in the last stanza as they knocked down 11 of 16 shots (66.8%), including 5 of 9 (55.6%) from the 3-point line and 9 of 10 (90%) from the free throw line.

Duncan Robinson led the way for Miami with 10 points in the final stanza, while Jimmy Butler added eight points and Bam Adebayo contributed seven.

“This is the finals,” Adebayo said after the game. “We gutted one out.”

Analysis of Game 2

Besides their incredible fourth-quarter shooting, the key for Miami in Game 2 was Erik Spoelstra’s game plan of making Nikola Jokic a scorer, which was the game plan in Game 1, but that didn’t work. So, Spoelstra inserted Kevin Love in the starting line, and voila. Love finished with six points, 10 boards, and, more importantly, a +18 plus/minus rating.

Like Game 1, which resulted in a 104-93 victory for Denver, the Nuggets made over 50% of their shots (52.0%) and outshot the Heat (48.7%). However, the Heat knocked down 17 treys and were 18 of 20 from the charity stripe — they were just 2-for-2 from the free throw line in Game 1.

As could be imagined, the Heat’s ability to carve up the Nuggets’ defense didn’t sit well with Denver head coach Michael Malone.

“Let’s talk about effort, This is the NBA Finals. We are talking about effort. That’s a huge concern of mine. You guys probably thought I was just making up some storyline after Game 1 when I said we didn’t play well. We didn’t play well.

“Tonight, the starting lineup to start the game, it was 10-2 Miami. Start of the third quarter, they scored 11 points in [just over two minutes]. We had guys out there that were just, whether feeling sorry for themselves for not making shots or thinking they can just turn it on or off — this is not the preseason, this is not the regular season. This is the NBA Finals. That, to me, is really, really perplexing, disappointing.”

Adebayo produced another strong game with 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. But unlike in Game 1, Adebayo got help from Butler (21 points, nine assists) and Gabe Vincent (23 points). Meanwhile, Max Strus bounced back from his goose-egg performance by tossing in 14 in Game 2.

Jokic had another huge with a 41-point and 11-rebound double-double to top all players, but he only had four assists and committed five turnovers while taking 28 shots.

Murray also posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown reached double-figures with 12 and 11 points.

Tyler Herro Could Return For Game 3

Miami accomplished exactly what any postseason road team wants to do: at least split the first two games. With Monday’s win, the Heat improved to 13-7 in the postseason, including a league-high seven road wins (7-5). Meanwhile, Game 2’s setback was Denver’s first playoff loss at home and just their fourth playoff setback in 17 contests.

Now the series heads to South Florida for two games, and the Heat could get some reinforcements. Earlier this morning, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that there was a belief that Herro may make his series debut in Game 3, despite the 23-year-old having yet to be medically cleared. Herro hasn’t played since fracturing his hand in Game 1 of Miami’s first-round series against Milwaukee.

There were only thoughts that Herro would try to give it a go in Game 2 as he played 2-on-2 Saturday. But since being ruled out on Monday, NBA TV reported that Herro will play in Game 3. Meanwhile, ESPN said there’s optimism he will play in Game 3. Following Game 2, Spoelstra also spoke about when Herro would be available.

“We’re really encouraged by the progress,” Spoelstra said. “He started doing contact work as soon as we got to Denver. “We have to maintain perspective. We want to be responsible about this. We’re all excited and encouraged by his progress, but we’ll get back to Miami. All we’re doing is sticking to the process, trying to stack positive days, also understanding this is not trying to return to a game in December. This is the Finals. So, there is a little bit of context to this.”

What Will Herro Provide If He Returns

While earlier indicated there was an excellent chance that Herro would return in Game 3, there were conflicting reports on Monday afternoon.

ESPN’s Ros Gold-Onwude tweeted that Herro told her, “he experiences both soreness and swelling in the right hand after shooting, and he can feel the soreness when he’s making a ‘follow through’ shooting motion.” Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sentinel responded to Gold-Onwude’s tweet with his own tidbit.

Herro is listed as a game-time decision by ESPN. However, there are over 40 hours from game time, so there is plenty of time for the status to change.

If Herro can go in Game 3, it will be interesting to see what he can provide the Heat. He is unlikely to start or play over 20 minutes if he does play at all. Therefore, expect Strus and Vincent to remain in the starting lineup though his return likely means fewer minutes for those two and Kyle Lowry, along with perhaps Robinson.

Herro is an outstanding scorer who can create for himself, create for his teammates and shoot the three ball. The 6-5 wing averaged 20.1 points while setting career highs in several statistical categories. Among the personal bests he set were 3-pointers per game (3.0), free-throw percentage (93.4%), rebounds (5.4), assists (4.2), and steals (0.8).

 

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