Tyler Herro’s return remains a waiting game as Heat keep winning

MIAMI (AP) —Since breaking his hand in the first round of the NBA playoffs,Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro has been relegated to offering histeammates support in conspicuously gaudy outfits — topics of muchconversation — from the sidelines.

The Heatwould much rather have their 20-point scorer on the court. But, hisreturn is still pending, and though Miami is holding out hope thatHerro could play basketball again this season, he is running out oftime and games.

The NBAFinals head to Miami on Wednesday with the series against theDenver Nuggets tied 1-1. Miami’s Eric Spoelstra said Herro was todo a full-contact workout Tuesday, but the veteran coach remainednoncommittal on the player’s possible return. Herro hasn’t yet beencleared to play.

“I don’t wantto be Nostradamus right now. We’re taking it one day at a time,”Spoelstra said. “I know that sounds like a cliché. He did thepractice with the group ... we’ll meet with the training stafflater on today and probably tomorrow, and we’ll just continue thisprocess. He has not been cleared yet, so that’s where we are, butwe’re encouraged by the work that he’s been doing."

Herro wasdiving for a loose ball late in the second quarter of the EasternConference playoff opener against the Milwaukee Bucks when theinjury to his right hand occurred. He re-entered the game, but wasleaning forward in obvious pain in front of Miami’s bench in thefinal minute of the first half.

“I feel likeI had some things to prove this postseason,” Herro said in April.“It was a tough moment. I still can’t believe it.”

He hadsurgery on April 21 for the fracture, with a four-to-six weekrecovery timetable, making a finals return possible.

“He’s anotherguy that provides so much shot-making, playmaking ability,” forwardKevin Love said. “You saw in Game 1, we got cold from the 3-pointline, didn’t shoot the ball particularly well from the field. He’sjust one of those guys that provides so much firepower.”

Losing such apivotal piece of their offense — their third-leading scorer behindJimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo — seemed like a blow that wouldprematurely end the Heat’s postseason run.

But they justkeep winning.

Theyeliminated the top-seeded Bucks in five games, handled the New YorkKnicks in six, and recovered from blowing a 3-0 series lead in theEastern Conference Finals against Boston to advance to thechampionship series for the second time in four seasons.

Players likeCaleb Martin, Gabe Vincent and Max Straus, have delivered inHerro’s absence.

Vincent isMiami’s third-leading postseason scorer with 13.9 points and 3.9assists in 31.6 minutes. And Martin, undrafted out of college witha stint in the G League, was the breakout star of the conferencefinals with 19.3 points on 60% shooting, including a playoffcareer-high 26 points at Boston in Game 7.

“I’m so happyfor the city of Miami,” Butler said Wednesday. “This organization,they deserve to be in the finals. They deserve to win the finalsand win a championship, and we will do everything in our power tomake that happen.”