Coming off their 11-point win over the Brooklyn Nets, the Miami Heat enter Friday’s second night of a back-to-back against the Boston Celtics down multiple rotation players, including guards Tyler Herro and Pelle Larsson.
Well, they will be without two more key starters — guard Davion Mitchell (ankle) and wing Andrew Wiggins (back) — the team announced less than one hour before tip-off.
As a result, coming off an eight-minute outing Thursday against Brooklyn, rookie Kasparas Jakucionis will earn his first career start! Jaime Jaquez Jr. will also start for Miami alongside Norman Powell, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.
Through 24 games, Wiggins is averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He’s shooting 47.4 percent shooting, 38.1 percent from 3-point range and 71.2 percent from the free-throw line.
In 26 games, Mitchell’s averaging 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists on 50.5 percent shooting and 37.7 percent from distance. He’s arguably the Heat’s best point-of-attac defender while also being their top facilitator.
Due to its lengthy injury report, Miami will have just 10 available players on Friday:
- Kasparas Jakucionis
- Norman Powell
- Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Bam Adebayo
- Kel’el Ware
- Dru Smith
- Simone Fontecchio
- Keshad Johnson
- Myron Gardner (two-way)
- Vlad Goldin (two-way)
Goldin has not appeared in a single game this season, while Gardner and Jakucionis have played nine minutes apiece.
The Heat snapped their five-game losing streak against the Nets on Friday with a 106-95 win. They need a spark offensively. Perhaps starting the rookie — who’s arguably the organization’s top passer — help maximize the rest of the offense.
Do you think the Heat will get the win against the red-hot Celtics Friday night?! Let us know in the comments!
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