Heat’s Bam Adebayo out with injury a week ahead of opener, but there’s a catch appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo at the forefront of the Miami Heat this season after the blockbuster trade was made in the summer, the other half of the dynamic duo that will be crucial is team captain Bam Adebayo. As the chemistry of Antetokounmpo and Adebayo on the Heat will be vital, the progress might be delayed slightly with the latest injury to Adebayo.
Wednesday marked the home preseason finale for Miami against the Brooklyn Nets, with the chance for the starters and regulars to log more minutes together against another team. However, Adebayo will be out for the contest with “right groin tightness,” joining Dru Smith (calf) and Pelle Larsson (illness) as being inactive for the game, though Keshad Johnson will be available after dealing with a hamstring injury.
“Dru Smith (calf), Pelle Larsson (sick), Bam Adebayo (right groin tightness) will not play in today’s exhibition. Adebayo is day-to-day. Keshad Johnson is available,” Chiang wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
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While immediate panic could enter the minds of the Heat’s fanbase as the team is a week away from Oct. 21.’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra is not “overly concerned” with the issue.
“Erik Spoelstra says he’s not ‘overly concerned’ regarding Bam Adebayo’s groin issue,” Chiang wrote on X. “Spoelstra said he plans to play most of the regulars in tonight’s preseason game.”
The Heat are hoping Bam Adebayo’s good to go for regular-season opener
As Spoelstra mentioned, most of the regulars will play in Wednesday’s preseason matchup, meaning Antetokounmpo will get his third chance to play for the Heat against another team before the start of the regular season. Aside from him, expect Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Bobby Portis Jr., and Tim Hardaway Jr. to play, as they didn’t in Miami’s 128-127 preseason loss to the Timberwolves last Sunday.
Aside from pickup games and practice sessions, Antetokounmpo and Adebayo have played together in two preseason games in the first halves, leading to 70-point halves. At any rate, it remains to be seen how Adebayo’s groin injury progresses before Oct. 21.
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