WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Bam Adebayo is available to play Wednesday vs. the Hawks.
On Wednesday night, the Miami Heat look to avenge a hard-fought loss suffered to the Atlanta Hawks earlier this week. However, Miami might be missing a key piece of the lineup for the home contest.
Heat big man Bam Adebayo is officially designated questionable for Wednesday’s game due to a calf injury.
The former All-Star led his team in minutes played in Monday’s loss with 37 minutes, producing 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals on the night. His absence would be a major blow for a Heat team still struggling to find their footing after the major roster shakeup from the trade deadline just a couple of weeks ago.
If Adebayo can’t suit up, rookie Kel’el Ware (probable, ankle) should see a bump in workload and a greater role in the starting lineup. Meanwhile, recent acquisition Andrew Wiggins (probable, jaw) could take on additional responsibilities in the offense. Of course, All-Star guard Tyler Herro is also a near-lock to handle additional shots in Adebayo’s absence.
The Heat are 26-30 on the season, and after losing to Atlanta on Monday, they now find themselves ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. A win over the Hawks on Wednesday would cause the two squads to switch places once again and bump Miami back into eighth place. However, it’s clear they have serious concerns to address if they have hopes of making a serious postseason push.