Robinson returns from back problem; Love might play Tuesday versus Knicks
As the Heat’s roster gets healthier, the rotation decisions get tougher.
Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love are the latest to return after multi-game absences stemming from injuries.
Robinson missed five straight games with a back issue before returning to play in Sunday night’s 119-107 win at Washington. While not in his usual rhythm, he was immediately re-inserted into the starting lineup and finished with six points on 2-of-7 shooting from three-point range in 28 minutes.
Love, 35, missed 14 consecutive games with a bruised right heel before returning to be available for the last two games, but he’s still waiting to log his first game minutes since Feb. 27.
“He’ll be activated,” coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday when asked about his approach with Love. “I have every intention of getting him back into the mix. These are fluid decisions when guys are in, out and then we’re trying to keep some level of continuity. That’s relatively impossible to do and it just takes a little bit of grace from everybody.”
Instead, the Heat has continued to use Thomas Bryant in the backup center role that Love has occupied and thrived in when healthy this season.
Bryant, 26, has logged double-digit minutes in nine of the Heat’s last 10 games. In those games he has averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while producing positive minutes; the Heat is outscoring opponents by 13.7 points per 100 possessions with Bryant on the court during that stretch.
But Love was an important part of the Heat’s success before injuring his heel in late February, establishing himself as the backup center behind Bam Adebayo this season. With the help of Love’s outside shooting, quality rebounding, timely outlet passes and charge-drawing ability, the Heat has outscored opponents by 5.7 points per 100 possessions with Love on the court this season to survive the non-Adebayo minutes.
“I’m fully aware of how important K-Love is to us and he’s been great about it,” Spoelstra said. Looking ahead to Tuesday’s home game against the New York Knicks, Spoelstra said: “I think with another day of work, he’ll be ready on Tuesday.”
ROBINSON’S RETURN
Robinson spoke to the media following his return Sunday about the process of getting back on the court. He missed nearly two weeks of games because of a back issue that was diagnosed as left facet syndrome.
“Syndrome can be misleading,” Robinson said. “But I guess that’s the medical name for whatever was going on. But yeah, trying to do everything I can to get back on the floor. Obviously, I pride myself on being out there and being available, so just doing whatever I could to get back.”
There was some concern that Robinson, 29, would need to miss more time, but a visit to a back specialist in late March revealed no significant issues.
“There was definitely concern,” he said. “It was an issue that had kind of built up over time a little bit. So trying to be smart about managing it.”
With usual starting guard Tyler Herro out since February because of a foot injury, Robinson has started in 13 straight appearances.
“It was good for him to get his feet wet and get those game minutes,” Spoelstra said of Robinson returning Sunday in Washington. “This is the thing that for people on the outside, you just don’t understand.
“If you’ve been out for some time, even if it’s just a little bit of time, you can do all the practicing, the workouts with coaches, it’s not the same as an NBA game and rhythm. I think he caught a little bit more of a rhythm in the second half.”
INJURY REPORT
The Heat continues to get healthier, as the only two players ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Knicks are Herro (right foot medial tendinitis) and Josh Richardson (right shoulder surgery).
Caleb Martin (right ankle discomfort), Robinson (left facet syndrome), Nikola Jovic (right knee contusion) and Terry Rozier (left knee contusion) are listed as probable.
The Knicks hadn’t issued an injury report as of late Monday afternoon.
Anthony Chiang: 305-376-4991, @Anthony_Chiang
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TUESDAY
New York at Miami, 7:30
L.A. Lakers at Toronto, 7
Milwaukee at Washington, 7 Oklahoma City at Philadelphia, 7:30 Houston at Minnesota, 8
San Antonio at Denver, 9
Cleveland at Utah, 9
Dallas at Golden State, 10
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MONDAY
Boston at Charlotte
Memphis at Detroit
Brooklyn at Indiana
Portland at Orlando
Atlanta at Chicago
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SUNDAY
Miami 119, Washington 107
Denver 130, Cleveland 101
L.A. Lakers 116, Brooklyn 104
L.A. Clippers 130, Charlotte 118 Philadelphia 135, Toronto 120 Oklahoma City 113, New York 112 Dallas 125, Houston 107
Chicago 109, Minnesota 101
Golden State 117, San Antonio 113 Sacramento 127, Utah 106
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