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UPDATE: Oct. 1, 2:07 p.m. — Adebayo is being listed as doubtful to play in Game 2 vs. the Lakers on Friday due to a shoulder strain. As you can see, the below report was pretty off. So it seems unlikely Adebayo will be able to play in Game 2. Dragic is also being listed as doubtful to play.
INJURY UPDATE: Goran Dragic (left foot torn plantar fascia) is listed as doubtful to play in tomorrow's #NBAFinals Game 2 vs the Lakers.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 1, 2020
Bam Adebayo is also listed as doubtful after a MRI revealed a neck strain (left side).
With Adebayo unlikely to play, we should expect Kelly Olynyk to start at center in his place. Kelly O played a decent amount in garbage time in Game 1 and had looked solid during the seeding round. This is a different animal though. He’ll have to guard Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard down low for most of the game. That won’t exactly be easy. We should also see more Solomon Hill off the bench as the only other true big aside from Jae Crowder, who is more of a 3-4 hybrid.
UPDATE: Adebayo intends to play in Game 2 vs. the Lakers on Friday, Tim Reynolds of the AP reported late Wednesday night.
Source says Bam Adebayo intends to play Friday in Game 2. There will be a lot of treatment in his future Thursday.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) October 1, 2020
UPDATE: Adebayo has been diagnosed with a shoulder strain and will not return to Game 1 vs. the Lakers. The team did say that Bam had X-rays, which came back negative, a good sign.
#MIAvsLAL INJURY UPDATE: Bam Adebayo (left shoulder strain) will not return to tonight's game vs the Lakers. X-rays returned negative.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 1, 2020
The Miami Heat are losing players left and right early on in the 2020 NBA Finals. First it was PG Goran Dragic (foot), who was declared doubtful to return to the second half. Now, All-Star C Bam Adebayo has gone to the locker room with an apparent shoulder injury and it’s unclear if he’ll return to the game Wednesday night.
Adebayo left during the third quarter and didn’t return with the Lakers up 93-67 after the frame. Bam had 8 points and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes for the Heat before leaving. Adebayo did sort of hurt his shoulder on a play during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, but played through it. This is where things could be precautionary with the Heat down big and the series being seven games.
If Adebayo is hurt and this is a something that could hold him out of Game 2, the Heat will need to start Kelly Olynyk at center. Miami would also be lacking size, so we could see more Solomon Hill as well. Kendrick Nunn is getting some run with Dragic out.