Miami Heat to be without two centers Saturday vs Hornets

The Miami Heat will be without two of their centers for Saturday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, but neither absence is expected to be an extended one.

Kevin Love (personal reasons) and rookie Kel’el Ware (illness) were ruled out for the Heat’s second game of the season, the team announced. Neither one practiced on Friday. Love also missed Wednesday’s season opener for the same reason.

Losing Ware for the game should not impact the rotation since the rookie received only garbage time minutes when Wednesday night’s game was already out of hand. 

Thomas Bryant will remain as Bam Adebayo’s primary backup.

Meanwhile, Josh Richardson was upgraded to questionable as he deals with a heel injury. Richardson hasn’t played since February, when he sustained a shoulder injury that required surgery. Richardson’s shoulder was cleared this week for contact, but the left heel injury threw his status into question.

If Richardson is available Saturday, he could push for minutes as a backup guard behind Terry Rozier and Tyler Herro.

For the Hornets, second-year forward Brandon Miller sustained a left glute strain in the season opener and will be out until at least Nov. 1. Center Mark Williams has not played this season and is questionable for Charlotte’s game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.