Miami Heat could be down as many as 2 starters vs Hawks

Duncan Robinson will be forced to miss another game with a lingering back injury.

After initially being listed as probably for the Miami Heat’s game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, Robinson was downgraded to out on Tuesday morning.

Robinson has struggled with his shot since returning from a back injury listed as left facet syndrome that sidelined him for five straight games late last month.

Duncan Robinson’s struggles

In his five games since he returned, Robinson has missed 22 of his 28 attempts from 3-point range (23.1%),  including an 0 for 4 outing in Miami’s loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

That loss virtually eliminated any chance of escaping the play-in tournament, so resting Robinson now to ensure he’s healthy for the postseason seems prudent. Robinson, 29, was clearly not 100% in this recent stretch.

How does this impact the Heat’s rotation?

Robinson started in his last 17 games, including the last two in which Tyler Herro returned from a 20-game absence because of knee and foot injuries. Herro had accepted a bench role upon his return, but Robinson’s injury will thrust him back into the starting lineup at least for one game.

Herro has played better than Robinson since he returned, posting 17 points and 21 points off the bench while shooting 50% overall in his two games. He closed both games and nearly lifted the Heat to a shocking comeback in Indiana on Sunday.

Should Herro continue to play well, he could reclaim a permanent spot in the starting lineup going forward. 

Is there anyone else on the injury report?

Bam Adebayo (left hand sprain), Nikola Jovic (right ankle sprain), Kevin Love (left ankle sprain) and Orlando Robinson (back spasms) are all listed as probably.

Meanwhile, Terry Rozier is considered questionable with a neck sprain that nearly sidelined him for Sunday’s loss. Rozier, after the game, remarked that he regretted trying to play Sunday.

The Heat have Patty Mills and Delon Wright as reserve guards who could play Tuesday night.