Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

Heat star Bam Adebayo reportedly targeting Monday return from thumb injury

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Jan 14, 2022 3:53 PM ET

The Miami Heat are on fire, winning three games in a row and eight of their last 10. They moved into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with the Brooklyn Nets at 26-15 and are reportedly on the cusp of getting their star big man back from injury.

After right thumb surgery six weeks ago, Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo is targeting a return vs. the Toronto Raptors on Monday, sources tell ESPN. Adebayo – who averages 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds -- has been ramping up on the court this week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 14, 2022

Miami's 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Adebayo has been limited to 18 games this season but has matched his career-highs in points (18.7) and rebounds per game (10.2) thus far. Adebayo scored 18.7 points per contest across 64 games during the 2020-2021 season and grabbed 10.2 rebounds per tilt during his lone All-Star campaign in 2019-2020.

For his career, the former Kentucky Wildcat has averaged 12.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 27.6 minutes per game while shooting 55.5% from the field and 74% from the free throw line. Adebayo was named Second-Team All-Defense in each of the last two seasons.

The Heat host the Atlanta Hawks (17-22) at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and welcome the Philadelphia 76ers (23-17) to town at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, before playing the Raptors on Monday.

Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa is a passionate follower of MLB, the NBA and NFL, with a deep interest in Boston-area teams. He graduated from Springfield College -- The Birthplace of Basketball -- in 2013 with a degree in Communications-Sports Journalism. Previous bylines include FanSided, Heavy and Syracuse

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