Miami could be welcoming back a certain Herro on Monday night.
After missing most of the Heat’s postseason run, star guard Tyler Herro “is expected to suit up” and “attempt a return” for Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Nuggets, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday.
Herro, who has missed time over the past eight weeks after suffering a broken right hand in the Heat’s first-round playoff matchup against the Bucks, was upgraded to questionable, according to Wojnarowski.
It was presumed Herro’s season was virtually over as he was expected to miss a minimum of six weeks as he recovered.
Herro’s anticipated return comes just as the Heat — the biggest surprise of the NBA playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference — trail the Nuggets 3-1 in the series.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about Herro’s progress ahead of Wednesday’s Game 3 loss in Miami.
“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Spoelstra said, according to Sports Illustrated. “I know that may sound like a cliché. He did practices with the group, and he’s gonna do a full contact practice after this. We’ll evaluate that, we’ll meet with the training staff later on today, and we’ll continue this process. He hasn’t been clears yet, so that’s where we are. But we’re encouraged by the work he’s been doing.”
Herro can be the difference-maker the Heat need if they hope to turn this lop-sided series around.
During the regular season, Herro averaged 20.1 points, five rebounds and four assists.
For a team that has only scored more than 100 points once in these Finals, adding Herro back into the rotation immediately makes the Heat more formidable on offense.
Game 5 between the Heat and Nuggets tips off at 8:30 p.m. in Denver.