Highsmith stays behind with Adebayo, Herro
TORONTO — The Miami Heat will be without their starting power rotation for Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena . . . and possibly longer.
Having already declared center Bam Adebayo out for a second consecutive game with a left-hip contusion, the team said at Tuesday’s practice at Kaseya Center that power forward Haywood Highsmith also was not traveling for the one-game trip due to the back bruise he aggravated early in Saturday night’s loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers.
Orlando Robinson started Saturday in place of Adebayo, with Caleb Martin starting Saturday’s second half in place of Highsmith.
Coach Erik Spoelstra termed Adebayo and Highsmith as day-to-day.
Highsmith previously missed the Nov. 28 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks with the lower-back contusion, an injury sustained in the Nov. 25 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
“His body will let him know,” Spoelstra said of the 26-year-old forward. “It’s been two hard spills. He’s able to do some work now, we’ll treat him day to day. He’s day to day. Bam’s day to day.
“They’re both feeling better. They’re making progress, but their bodies will ultimately let us know.”
Wednesday will be the fifth game missed by Adebayo with the left-hip contusion, an injury that first had him sidelined on Oct. 30.
The injuries to Adebayo and Highsmith, two of the Heat’s leading defenders, have coincided with a downturn in the team’s defense that included allowing 144 points in Saturday’s loss to the Pacers.
That had the Heat with a specific focus at Tuesday’s practice.
“We watched film today. And then we drilled it,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat having yielded 144, 132 and 131 points in their last three games. “Today was a good day to look at our defense from the last three games, really.
“We went to work today, tried to get better, get back on track with our defense. It was a good day.”
In addition to Adebayo and Highsmith, the Heat continue to play in the injury absence of a third starter, with guard Tyler Herro out since suffering an ankle sprain Nov. 8 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Herro also remained behind Tuesday.
“We don’t have an update,” Spoelstra said. “He’s doing more.”
Duncan Robinson has been starting in place of Herro.
Richardson strides
While there remain concerns with the ailing, taking a step forward in recent games has been guard Josh Richardson, who entered the season dealing with a preseason foot issue.
“Feet stuff is always tricky,” said Richardson, 30, who has scored 16 or more in the past three games. “Even when you come back, you’re kind of moving kind of careful, and my thinking was finding rhythm, getting back to the flow of how the Heat play.
“Yeah, I think I’m getting back. I think I’m close. My shot feels good and my drives, I’m confident with the ball in my hands again. But defense will catch up again.”
Injury report
In addition to the Heat being without Adebayo, Highsmith and Herro, also listed out by the Heat for Wednesday are Dru Smith (knee), R.J. Hampton (knee) and Cole Swider, who has been returned to the G League Sioux Falls Skyforce as part of his two-way contract.
Martin also is on the Heat injury report with a shoulder contusion, but is listed as available.