The irony of the Heat’s Wiggins/Butler trade, and where Wiggins stands. And Jovic upgraded
When the Heat added Andrew Wiggins in a package for Jimmy Butler, the thought was that Miami was acquiring the more durable player.
It certainly hasn’t played out that way.
Wiggins has missed 15 of 32 games since being traded to the Heat, while Butler has played in all but one game for the Warriors.
Wiggins showed rust last week in his first two games back from a hamstring injury, shooting 9 for 23 and scoring a combined 24 points against Chicago and New Orleans. But on Tuesday, he pronounced himself ready for Wednesday’s play-in elimination game at Chicago.
“I’m feeling good, a lot better than I did before,” he said.
Playing the two games last week, after missing six, “helped a lot getting my rhythm right. I feel like we needed it to get some rest and get our bodies right for a big game coming up.”
Wiggins missed one game due to a stomach illness, five games due to a sprained right ankle, two games due to a left lower leg contusion and six due to the hamstring and one for rest, when the Heat opted not to use several veterans in its season finale.
“I’ve had little nicks, banged up a little bit,” he said. “Being hurt is definitely not fun. We have a great training staff that got me healthy. Ready to go now.”
Wiggins said in the Bulls’ win against the Heat last Wednesday, “they played like the most desperate team, like they wanted it more. We can’t let that happen again.”
Wiggins has averaged 19 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his 17 Heat appearances, shooting 45.8 percent and 36 percent on threes.
But he struggled finishing around the basket and Miami was just 6-11 when he played.
Jovic upgraded
Forward Nikola Jovic, who has been out since Feb. 23 with a broken bone in his hand, was listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game, marking the first time he hasn’t been listed as out since the injury.
“He’s done a lot of lifting and conditioning,” Erik Spoelstra said. “He looks great; body fat is great. Last two or three weeks, he’s been able to do considerable player development.”
Forward Pelle Larsson, who injured his ankle in a pregame warmup in Chicago last week, is questionable for Wednesday’s game.
Kevin Love, who is back with the team after being away for a family matter, also is listed as questionable with a return to conditioning designation.
All others on the 15-man roster are available. Two-way contract players Dru Smith (torn Achilles), Josh Christopher and Isaiah Stevens aren’t eligible to play.
Spoelstra’s message
Even though the Heat hasn’t been able to keep up with the Bulls’ speedy tempo in three losses to Chicago, Spoelstra said Miami doesn’t want to play excessively slow on Wednesday.
“We don’t want to play a prevent offense or prevent type game,” Spoelstra said. “We want to attack this game. You can dance with the fire, but you’ve got to be smart with it. We don’t want to play at just a snail’s pace to slow them down. They’ll still score and find a way to score.”
▪ Though a No. 9-vs.-No. 10 play-in game hardly inspires nationwide interest, Spoelstra said: “It makes you feel alive. That’s for damn sure. On the outside, you could think 9 playing 10: what does that mean? Well, it means a lot.
“It’s going to be competitive, and that’s what I’m looking forward to seeing, to see if it will bring out a higher level. That’s what I expect. We have guys who have been through the wars who understand how to approach a game like this.”
Tyler Herro said: “It’s a great time to be alive. Everything matters from the moment you wake up tomorrow… It helps having multiple guys with experience in these situations, which we do.”
▪ ESPN assigned its NBA Finals announcing team – Mike Breen, Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson – to the game. FanDuel Sports Sun is not permitted to televise the game.
▪ If the Heat wins, Miami would fly to the loser of Tuesday’s Orlando/Atlanta game for another play-in game Friday.
▪ Final regular-season nuggets: Tyler Herro became only the third Heat player to score 20 points in at least 56 games in a season, joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade… Kel’el Ware’s 15 double-doubles led all NBA rookies…
The Heat scored 9,069 points this season, most in franchise history. But Miami was 21st in offensive rating (points per 100 possessions), so that record is more a reflection of the state of the game today….
Duncan Robinson led the Heat with eight charges taken, and Dru Smith (four) was second despite missing the final four months with a torn Achilles… Miami, whose season would end Wednesday with a loss, lost more games on Wednesday (10 of 16 games) than any other day.
