Adebayo joins Herro on the sidelines, as injuries again plague reeling Heat
The Heat likely will be without Bam Adebayo against the Hawks on Friday as it tries to avoid falling below .500 for the first time since the opening week of the season.
Adebayo, who has struggled offensively over the past three games, was downgraded from questionable to doubtful on Friday because of lower-back soreness.
“I think if we handle it now, I think he’ll be fine,” coach Erik Spoelstra said after the team’s shoot-around in Atlanta. “But he was pretty sore.”
Adebayo, who did not speak to a very limited media contigent at Friday’s practice, previously missed six games this season because of a toe injury.
Meanwhile, guard Tyler Herro will miss his eighth game with a toe injury. Spoelstra has said there’s no timetable for a return.
But forward Nikola Jovic and guard Pelle Larsson are expected to play on Friday after injuries sidelined them over the two weeks.
“They had a good practice, they both were able to get after it, and they’re eager to get back out there,” Spoelstra said.
Jovic said his right elbow contusion sutained during a hard fall “still hurts, but it doesn’t hurt that much. I can play. And the team is struggling a little bit now, so I guess we need everybody and I guess I’m here to help the team.”
Larsson said he’s good to go after dealing with a Dec. 10 ankle injury.
The Heat, once 14-7, enters Friday’s game at 15-15 and ninth in the East.
This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM.
