When the Miami Heat take on the Boston Celtics in an elimination game on Wednesday night, they will once again be without a key player. Jaime Jaquez Jr., a rookie forward, will be absent from the team due to a strained right hip flexor.
Jaquez Jr.’s absence compounds the team’s injury woes, which already include sidelined starters Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck), as well as Josh Richardson, who has been out for months following shoulder surgery.
Jaquez Jr. sustained the hip injury during Game 4 against the Celtics and despite attempting to play through it, subsequent tests on Tuesday revealed the severity of the injury. He has been a steady presence in the series, starting all four games and averaging 12.8 points. Among Miami players against the Celtics, only Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Caleb Martin have seen more minutes on the court.
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Throughout the series, the Heat have grappled with injuries, never fielding a fully healthy lineup. With Boston currently holding a 3-1 lead, they could advance to the second round with a victory on Wednesday.
Adding to the Heat’s injury concerns, Butler and Rozier remain unavailable, while Duncan Robinson has been hampered by a back problem, seeing limited action with an average of around 10 minutes per game.
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