Heat Searching for Answers as Injuries Mount and Slump Deepens
MIAMI - The Miami Heat find themselves in a tough stretch, having dropped seven of their last eight games heading into Tuesday night’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors. And as any fan watching this team knows, the absence of key contributors - especially Tyler Herro - is casting a long shadow over their recent skid.
Herro, who’s been battling a toe contusion, was sidelined once again Tuesday, marking his seventh missed game in the last eight. It’s been a frustrating season for the former All-Star, who already sat out the first 17 games while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. For a player who’s so central to Miami’s offensive identity, these setbacks couldn’t be more ill-timed.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra offered a bit of optimism, though, when asked about Herro’s progress.
“I’m very encouraged by the progress,” Spoelstra said. “They’re not ready to go tonight, and we don’t have a timeline, but I’m seeing what they’re doing. I don’t need to get into all the details of what I’m seeing, but I came in yesterday, and I was encouraged.”
It’s not just Herro on the shelf. Pelle Larsson missed his sixth game in the last seven due to an ankle sprain, and Nikola Jovic remains out after suffering a painful-looking elbow injury in a previous matchup against these same Raptors on December 15. While initially thought to be an arm issue, the team later clarified it was a right elbow contusion and laceration.
Asked Erik Spoelstra about the progress Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, and Nikola Jovic are making, says he’s “very encouraged by the progress.” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/JPJYpkXeot
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 23, 2025
The Heat aren’t strangers to injury adversity - it’s been part of their story the past few seasons - but this stretch is testing the depth and resilience of a team that started the year strong. At 14-7, Miami looked like a squad ready to build on last season’s momentum. But since then, the wheels have wobbled, and now they’re trying to keep from falling back to .500 after entering Tuesday with a 15-14 record.
Spoelstra isn’t sugarcoating anything. After a 135-127 loss to the New York Knicks, he made it clear: moral victories don’t count in the standings.
“We’re not happy about the result,” he said. “We’re not trying to just play well and lose at the end.
We’re developing a competitive, collective will. Our guys care in the locker room, but it’s got to be another level.
It’s not enough. It’s got to be more.
This league is a savage league. It’s survival of the competitive toughest, and that’s where we’re going to get.”
That message - raw, honest, and reflective of a coach who’s been through the grind - captures where Miami is right now. They’re not looking for sympathy. They’re looking for solutions.
Herro’s absence is especially glaring. His scoring, shot creation, and ability to stretch the floor are all elements Miami has sorely missed during this slump.
And while the team has tried to adapt - leaning into a faster-paced offensive style that caught opponents off guard early in the season - the rest of the league has adjusted. Now it’s Miami’s turn to respond.
Spoelstra remains confident that Herro is doing everything he can to get back on the court.
“He’s working diligently as well,” Spoelstra said last week. “And as soon as he can get back to feeling like he can move the way he wants to move, he’ll be back out there.”
That return can’t come soon enough. With Herro, Jovic, and Larsson all still working their way back, the Heat are left trying to stay afloat in a brutal Eastern Conference. The margin for error is slim, and the schedule won’t wait.
Coach Spo says the Heat need to care more than they do right now
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 22, 2025
"Our guys care in the locker room but has to be another level. Has to be more. Its not enough. Its a savage league. Its survival of the competitive toughest. Thats where we're gonna get."
Coach Spo was visibly… https://t.co/SyN5z3CqYN pic.twitter.com/XT8FK47ZS5
One thing is clear: this stretch is a test of Miami’s identity. The talent is there, the coaching is proven, and the culture is built for moments like this. But until reinforcements arrive, it’s about grit, execution, and finding ways to win - even when the roster’s not at full strength.
The Heat have been here before. Now it’s time to see if they can climb out of it again.