Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, and Zach LaVine are among key players absent for Thursday’s showcase
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat (14-10) are facing off against Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls (9-16) on Thursday night.
Miami is fresh off a double-digit victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Chicago’s latest contest was an eight-point loss to the Denver Nuggets earlier in the week.
Injury report:
HEAT
Bam Adebayo: Out – Left Hip Contusion
Tyler Herro: Out – Right Ankle Sprain
Haywood Highsmith: Out – Lower Back Contusion
Nikola Jovic: Out – G League – On Assignment
Caleb Martin: Available – Left Shoulder Contusion
Josh Richardson: Out – Head Non-Covid Illness
Duncan Robinson: Available – Left Groin Strain
Dru Smith: Out – Right Acl 3rd Degree Sprain
BULLS
Lonzo Ball: Out – Left Knee Surgery
Onuralp Bitim: Out – G League – Two-Way
Alex Caruso: Questionable – Left Ankle Sprain
Zach LaVine: Out – Right Foot Inflammation
Justin Lewis: Out – G League – Two-Way
Adama Sanogo: Out – G League – Two-Way
Earlier this season, the Heat and Bulls split a back-to-back series. The first matchup of this series snapped Miami’s seven-game win streak. Since this run, Miami’s starters, including Adebayo and Highsmith, have suffered injuries. With these players absent, the Heat are showing inconsistency.
The Bulls are among the teams expected to begin their rebuild at the trade deadline or the beginning of the offseason. With LaVine sidelined, Chicago’s chances of coming out victorious are slim.
These teams are once again participating in back-to-back games. Hopefully, for Heat fans, they walk away with two victories.
Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.
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