As confirmed by the team on Tuesday, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier will not participate in the upcoming NBA play-in tournament matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Rozier, who has been a key player for Miami, is still recovering from a neck injury sustained during the Heat’s April 17 matchup against the Indiana Pacers.
The absence of Rozier comes at a critical time as the Heat face off against the 76ers in Philadelphia for the coveted No. 7 seed.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to a first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, which will start Saturday in New York.
Conversely, the losing team will host a play-in game on Friday against the victor of the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks matchup, with the ultimate winner set to challenge the top-seeded Boston Celtics in another series beginning Sunday.
Rozier, who joined Miami in January through a trade involving Charlotte Hornets’ veteran Kyle Lowry and a future first-round draft pick, has contributed significantly this season. In 31 games with the Heat, he has averaged 16.4 points and 4.6 assists, shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc.
In more positive news for Miami, the team announced that guard Duncan Robinson is set to return to play on Wednesday.
Robinson has been battling a back issue but is now cleared to join the court after missing the last four regular-season games. Despite his health challenges, Robinson noted for his three-point shooting prowess, played in just five of the team’s final 13 games.
On the Philadelphia side, coach Nick Nurse confirmed that Joel Embiid participated in practice on Tuesday and is expected to play in Wednesday’s game. As a precautionary measure, Embiid rested during Sunday’s season finale against Brooklyn.
However, De’Anthony Melton remains sidelined due to a back problem, and forward Robert Covington is unlikely to return this season due to a knee injury.
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