Four players return, but Herro out now

Guard bothered by neck spasms; Butler, Bradley still sidelined

The Miami Heat received a welcome roster boost for Saturday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena.

But as seemingly always has happened this season, it also was one step back, with guard Tyler Herro now out.

Listed as questionable earlier in the day, Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic, Moe Harkless, Udonis Haslem, Kendrick Nunn and KZ Okpala all were available to coach Erik Spoelstra at the start of two-game home series against the Pistons that concludes Monday with a 1 p.m. matchup.

Those six were presumed to have been out due to contact tracing, flying back to South Florida on Monday after last Sunday’s game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden was postponed.

Still out for the Heat were Jimmy Butler and Avery Bradley, an indication that their status on the NBA injury report due to

“health and safety protocols” is due to more than contact tracing.

Players testing positive for COVID-19 are expected to miss 10 to 14 days, at minimum.

The Heat remained without center Meyers Leonard, who strained his left shoulder in last Saturday’s victory over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena.In addition, Herro was sidelined by the neck spasms that kept him out of the second half of Thursday night’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He said he had been experiencing the discomfort earlier in the week.

The Heat played the previous two games, road losses in Philadelphia, with the NBA minimum of eight players. Had Herro missed Thursday’s game, that game would have been postponed.

The NBA has reported an increase in players sidelined by pandemic protocols, leading some to contemplate a return to the quarantine type of bubble setting utilized to complete last season at Disney World.

Players have been mostly against the concept, but that thinking might be changing.

“I think it seems like we’re doing everything we can as far as the league goes and the NBPA to collaborate and try to make the best situation,” said guard Gabe Vincent, who had been on the Heat’s Saturday injury report with knee pain but was cleared to play.

“I know what I’m hearing: A lot of people don’t really want to return to a bubble. It’s nice to be at home. It’s nice to go home and sleep in your own bed.

“But if that’s what we have to do, that’s what we have to do. Like I said, I’m grateful to have this game and have my job with everything going on. So I want to compete. I want to win, I want to play this game. So if that’s what it takes for us to play, I’m in.”