Erik Spoelstra Avoids Deploying Miami Heat Starters in Finale

Miami Heat stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro head into Sunday’s regular-season finale having played and started in 78 and 77 games, respectively.

Thankfully, those numbers will stay exactly where they are.

After originally hinting that he’d play his starters to keep everyone in a rhythm, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra won’t employ the same starting five against the Washington Wizards that has started the past two games. Adebayo, Herro, Wiggins and Burks have been ruled out.

Miami has nothing to play for except the concept of sustaining a rhythm prior to the postseason, Adebayo, Herro, Wiggins, Burks and rookie Kel’el Ware are expected to start against the Bulls, but only Ware will be in uniform against the Wizards. 

Bulls coach Billy Donovan is also going to tempt fate by playing most of the starters at least some minutes in season finale at the Philadelphia 76ers as long as his medical staff approves. He told reporters in Chicago he doesn’t want regulars sitting until Wednesday.

However, standout guard Josh Giddey will sit due to a forearm issue in a move that’s mostly precautionary. He torched the Heat for 28 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists, all team-highs, in Wednesday’s 119-111 victory. Chicago reserve guards Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder), Lonzo Ball (wrist) and Tre Jones (foot) remain sidelined.

Miami had Adebayo (back), Herro (thigh), Burks (back) and Wiggins (hamstring) all missed games in April, so risking losing them to injury made little sense. Reserves Duncan Robinson (SI joint) and Haywood Highsmith (Achilles) and Kevin Love (personal) have also missed games. While Love remains out, Highsmith and Robinson are available to play.

Forward Nikola Jovic last played on Feb. 23 due to a broken hand. It even made more sense to throw him out there to see what he can do than risking Adebayo or Burks having their backs tense up, but he will also sit out the finale.

Rookie wing Pelle Larsson missed Sunday’s game against the Bulls because he sprained his right ankle while lifting weights. He termed it a “freak accident.” Although X-rays were negative, he won’t play against Washington. His status for Wednesday is unknown.

Miami has seemingly operated under a black cloud for months, so hoping that Sunday’s contest wouldn’t yield any nasty surprises would have peen a foolish proposition. Spoelstra should opt for maximum caution in the second half, which means Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier, Josh Christopher, Keshad Johnson and Isaiah Stevens should get the bulk of the minutes.

Tony Mejia is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at tnyce1414@gmail.com