There was some good news after the Miami Heat suffered a heartbreaking 109-105 loss at home to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
Heat guard Tyler Herro, who hasn't played since Feb. 23 due to a foot injury, traveled to Houston with the Heat after Thursday's loss to the 76ers at Caseya Center, league officials said. . The Heat begin their final regular-season trip on Friday (8 p.m., Bally Sports Sun) against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in a back-to-back set.
The 76ers beat the Heat and are closing in on Miami in the standings.Key points and details
The trip includes three games: Friday against the Rockets, Sunday against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Herro, who missed his 20th straight game on Thursday, could return as early as Friday in Houston.
During Herro's 20-game absence, he dealt with a hyperextension in his left knee that has since recovered, but he remained sidelined due to medial tendonitis in his right foot.
Herro resumed on-court training last week after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection to treat an injured foot on March 15.
Herro's return would add much-needed scoring and outside shooting to the Heat's rotation as they struggle late in the season to avoid the NBA play-in tournament. Miami opened Friday with the NBA's 21st offensive rating this season.
Herro, 24, has started all 36 games this season. This season, he's averaging career-highs in points (20.8 per game) and assists (4.4 per game) while shooting 39.9 percent on 43.7 percent from the field and 8.1 percent from 3-point range.
Herro is close to returning, but it's unclear whether Heat starting guard Terry Rozier will be able to play Friday against the Rockets. He appeared to injure his knee late in Thursday's loss and hobbled off the court in the final seconds.
“He banged his knee,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Thursday's loss when asked about Rozier's knee problems. “We'll have to see how he feels when we get to Houston. He said he feels good. I don't want to take anyone's word for it until we get to Houston and see him tomorrow morning.” . He’s tough.”
Rozier said after Thursday's game about his knee injury: But I feel better now. that's OK. ”
The Heat have six games remaining on their regular season schedule, including Friday's matchup with the Rockets.
The Heat are scheduled to release their injury report Friday afternoon for Friday night's game against the Rockets.
This story will be updated.
