Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier’s return will need to wait at least one more game.
After initially being listed as probable for Sunday night’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks at Kaseya Center (6 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun), Rozier was downgraded to out for the contest on Sunday afternoon. It marks the second straight game that Rozier has missed because of lingering right foot discomfort.
Rozier, who practiced with the team on Friday and Saturday during the Heat’s long five-day break between games, said on Thursday that an MRI on his injured foot returned clean and “everything is fine.” But apparently the pain in his foot is still bothering him. Rozier, 30, started in each of the Heat’s first 12 games this season before missing Monday and Sunday’s games.
He has struggled to find his offensive rhythm so far, averaging 12.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from the field and 33.3 percent on threes this season. Along with Rozier, the Heat will be without Josh Christopher (G League) and Dru Smith (right knee bone bruise) against the Mavericks. Heat star Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game after missing Saturday’s practice because of an illness. But Butler is expected to play against the Mavericks, according to a league source.
More good news for the Heat: Miami is expected to get back Jaime Jaquez Jr. on Sunday after he missed Monday’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers with a sprained right ankle. In addition, Josh Richardson is not on the injury report despite missing Thursday’s practice because of heel pain. Richardson is expected to be available against the Mavericks. The Heat is also calling on reinforcement from the G League, as two-way contract forward Keshad Johnson is expected to rejoin the team for Sunday’s game.
With Rozier again out, the Heat could go with the starting lineup of Terry Herro, Duncan Robinson, Butler, Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo for the second straight game. The Mavericks will be without star Luka Doncic against the Heat. Doncic will miss his second straight game on Sunday because of a sprained right wrist. The Mavericks will also be without Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) and Brandon Williams (G League). Dallas center Daniel Gafford is listed as questionable because of left shoulder soreness.
Monday marks the start of a busy stretch for the Heat that includes three games in four nights, with a home matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks set for Tuesday and a road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets set for Wednesday.