MIAMI — Miami Heat’s player Nikola Jovic will be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks due to a fracture in his right hand, as confirmed by the team on Tuesday. This development presents a significant challenge to the team’s efforts to secure a guaranteed playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
Jovic sustained the injury to the second metacarpal bone in his hand during Sunday’s match against Milwaukee, with the fracture being confirmed at halftime. He subsequently missed Monday’s game in Atlanta. On Tuesday, Heat’s chief hand surgeon Elizabeth Ann Ouellette along with team physician Harlan Selesnick evaluated him, leading to a decision on the four-week recovery period.
Jovic will need to wear a splint on his hand until further re-evaluation, as noted by the team. Coach Erik Spoelstra expressed sympathy for Jovic, stating, “I feel for Niko. I know how much he’s put into this.”
The Miami Heat are set to face Atlanta at home on Wednesday.
According to the timeline provided, Jovic, who is averaging 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season, is projected to miss approximately 15 upcoming games. The earliest potential return is speculated to be on March 25, when the Heat play against former Miami forward Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors.
Notably, the Heat have an 11-5 record this season in games where Jovic scores at least 14 points. As of Tuesday, the Heat stood ninth in the Eastern Conference, trailing Detroit by five games for the sixth spot that guarantees a playoff berth.
