The Miami Heat have been one of the league’s hottest teams, winning four straight and seven of their last nine. Their surge has pushed them to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, sitting 3.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Pistons.
Tyler Herro is expected to make his season debut Tuesday night, giving the Heat an additional high-level scoring threat to supplement an offense that has found its rhythm early in the season.
Herro’s return isn’t the only boost to Miami’s rotation. According to Heat reporter Anthony Chiang, the team has recalled rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their G League affiliate. Jakucionis, the No. 20 overall pick in this year’s draft, appeared in four games with Sioux Falls while recovering from a sprained left wrist that delayed his NBA debut. In those games, he averaged 14 points, five rebounds and 4.8 assists, showing the versatile playmaking that made him a first-round selection.
His shooting numbers suggest room for growth, as he hit 38.5% from the field and 22% from three-point range during his stint in the G League. Still, Miami views him as a developing rotation piece who can contribute with his size, passing ability and willingness to defend.
Jakucionis arrived in the NBA after a strong freshman season at Illinois, where he posted 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. With his call-up, he now becomes part of a Heat bench that continues to evolve as the team gets healthier.
After hosting the Dallas Mavericks tonight, the Heat will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday and then the conference-leading Pistons on Saturday, giving Miami a chance to tighten the gap at the top of the standings.
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