Miami Heat Player Will Miss First Game Of NBA Season

According to Tim Reynolds of AP Sports, Haywood Highsmith (Miami Heat) will be out for at least two weeks.

Haywood Highsmith is coming off a year where he averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 43.1% from the field and 33.9% from the three-point range in 54 regular season games for the Miami Heat. 

However, Highsmith will miss the team's first game of the 2023-24 season against the Detroit Pistons on October 25 (at home in Florida).  

Via Tim Reynolds of AP Sports: "Josh Richardson's MRI was negative. He's day to day. 

Haywood Highsmith will miss opening night, however. Out with a left MCL sprain; will be re-evaluated in two weeks."

Josh Richardson's MRI was negative. He's day to day.

Haywood Highsmith will miss opening night, however. Out with a left MCL sprain; will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) October 19, 2023

Highsmith has played three seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers (and Heat).  

His career averages are 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 41.5% from the field and 33.1% from the three-point range in 78 regular season games (he has also appeared in 26 NBA playoff games). 

Spo on of Haywood Highsmith has earned a bigger role:

"I love when players make you think, and that's what (Haywood) is doing right now." pic.twitter.com/zcmifkwqTQ

— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) October 19, 2023

Last year, the Heat were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference but made the NBA Finals after beating the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in the first three rounds of the playoffs. 

They lost to the Denver Nuggets (in the Finals) in five games. 

Highsmith appeared in 18 NBA playoff games and had averages of 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 61.5% from the field. 

Haywood Highsmith dropped 1️⃣8️⃣ points, a career high for the #GLeagueAlum, in the opening game of the #NBAFinals for the @miamiheat! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JyQf5nL3WR

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) June 2, 2023

The Heat have been one of the best teams in the league over the previous four seasons, as they have made the NBA Finals twice (and the Eastern Conference Finals three times). 

More on the Miami Heat can be read here