Miami Heat guard Tyler Hero (right-handed) has been ruled out of Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. In April, Herro had surgery on his right hand after he dunked for a loose ball in Miami’s first-round Game 1 win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“He’s not playing tomorrow,” Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said during the NBA Finals media day. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves now. It’s still just beginning this process (intensification). We only have a few days here for ongoing work.”
In many NBA betting sites, the Denver Nuggets are favorites to win the 2023 NBA Finals. The sports books show Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler with the second shortest odds of winning the Finals MVP award.
Tyler Herro aims to make a comeback through Game 3, per @employee pic.twitter.com/c1r2tOqyGD
– NBACentral (TheNBACentral) May 30, 2023
“I can’t even make any kind of statement until he takes these next important steps. This is by calling and doing more things live on the field,” Spoelstra added. “We’re all encouraged by his progress, but we want to continue to take responsibility and make the best decisions. We’ll just see.”
In 67 regular season starts, Herro averaged 20.1 points and career highs of 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 34.9 minutes per game. The 2022 sixth man also shoots 43.9% from the field, 37.8% outside the arc, and hits a best 93.4% from the foul line. Not to mention he finished 18th in 3s with a score of 203.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Hero (right handed) was eliminated from Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets
Moreover, in Miami’s 111-108 win over the Houston Rockets on December 15, Tyler Hero scored a career-high 41 points in 40 minutes as a starter. Along with notching six boards, two assists, one steal, and one block, the fourth-year guard shot 13-of-20 (65%) from the floor and 10-of-15 (66.7%) out of the arc.
Hero became just the fourth Miami Heat player to hit 10 three-pointers in a single game, a record set by Duncan Robinson on December 10, 2019. The Kentucky product joins Stephen Curry and James Harden as the only players in NBA history. At least nine three-pointers in consecutive matches.
Spo talked about making Tyler Herro more teamwork and connection. For him, the teamwork part seems to be part of the day’s practice. Again, a step forward that he hadn’t seen in his recovery. pic.twitter.com/Zh02bQbNPN
– WillManso May 31, 2023
Additionally, TNT reporter Chris Haynes reports that Tyler Hero is expected to return for Game 3 of the NBA Finals next Wednesday. Victor Oladipo (knee) He is the only other Heat player included in the injury report. A 10-year veteran remains out of the game until the end of the season.
Moreover, Herro was spotted practicing at Ball Arena on Wednesday.
“I’m going to do the workout every day, twice, two or three times a day, from here until the day I hope to be back,” said the Heat guard. “So, I’m going to keep working hard and seeing how my body responds day by day. I’m trying to get back as soon as possible.”
For Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals, the sportsbooks show the Heat as a 9-point underdog on the road against Denver. According to ESPN’s Basketball Strength Index, the Nuggets have a 78% chance of winning. However, Miami is 5-1 in its last six games versus Western Conference opponents.