Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Herro to miss games against Nets due to neck issues
The Miami Heat sent guard Tyler Herro home from Tampa on Friday ahead of the team’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
Herro had missed the previous three games due to neck spasms before returning to practice Thursday. He then woke up sore Friday, with the team choosing not to have to continue during the four-game trip that concludes with games Saturday and Monday against the Brooklyn Nets.
Both teams were shorthanded Friday night, with the Raptors without starting point guard Kyle Lowry due to an infected toe.
The Heat remain without Jimmy Butler and Avery Bradley due to pandemic protocols, and also are without center Meyers Leonard, who has been sidelined since straining his left shoulder in a Feb. 9 road victory over the Washington Wizards.
Neither Butler nor Bradley have resumed basketball activity.
The Heat’s first game after the trip is Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets at American-Airlines Arena, a game that opens a back-to-back set that concludes Thursday against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.
The Raptors on Friday added Lowry to their injury report, initially listing him as questionable due to a sore right foot. Also listed as questionable for Toronto was forward Pascal Siakam, who then was cleared from his sore left groin to play.
Both Lowry and Siakam played in the Heat’s 111-102 Wednesday night victory over the Raptors in Tampa, where Toronto is playing this season due to Canadian pandemic border restrictions.
Nets await
The second appearance of the Nets’ Big Three was put on hold Friday until the Heat’s Saturday visit to Barclays Center.
As they continue to manage Kevin Durant’s recovery from the torn Achilles that kept him out last season, the Nets announced Friday that Durant would not play in Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Instead, Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden are expected to play for only the second time as a trio when the Heat open their two-game set against the Nets at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Nets’ star trio debuted in a Wednesday overtime loss in Cleveland, when Durant played 50 minutes. This is the second time the Nets have managed Durant during a back-to-back set, holding him out of the second night of such a pairing in December.
Brooklyn initially was without Irving after last week’s acquisition of Harden, with the mercurial guard away from the Nets due to personal reasons since Jan. 5. The Nets acquired Harden from the Houston Rockets a week ago Thursday.
Ticket priority
The Heat on Friday clarified ticketing priority for the upcoming six home games that will feature limited attendance.
Starting with Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Heat will allow approximately 2,000 season-ticket holders into 19,600-seat American-Airlines Arena.
Those tickets will be made available next week.
The Heat, in a message to season-ticket holders, noted:
■ The scheduled time to purchase tickets is based on tenure as a season-ticket holder.
■ Purchases must be must made online process during individually scheduled times.
■ Tickets will be sold in pairs and groups of four, where available. There is a four-ticket per game purchase limit.
■ All tickets purchased will be mobile-only entry and can be accessed via the Heat App.
■ Because of the arena’s reduced capacity, typical seat locations will not be available.
■ Due to physical-distancing protocols, seating will be limited. All tickets are based on availability and inventory may sell out during the process.
■ If applicable, account credits can be used to purchase tickets.
■ Ticket prices are discounted from individual-game rates.
■ Tickets purchased can be transferred to guests.
■ Tickets can be resold on TicketMaster’s Resale Marketplace. All tickets in a seating pod must be sold together, to ensure proper physical distancing between groups.
■ Parking passes inside the Arena’s P2 Garage will be available for purchase.
■ Arena lounge areas will be closed during the initial six-game ticketing period.
The Heat also noted, “Purchasing tickets for these games is optional. Your Account Credit can also be applied to future available games during the 2020-21 season, or the 2021 Playoffs, all subject to availability. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to apply all or some of your credit to your season tickets for the 2021-22 season.”