Tyler Herro Out Again as Heat Look for Answers vs. Nets
The Miami Heat will be without Tyler Herro once again on Thursday night as they take on the Brooklyn Nets. The star guard has been ruled out due to a lingering toe injury, marking the third time in the last four games-and the 21st time this season-that Herro will be sidelined. It's another frustrating bump in the road for a player who missed the start of the season following offseason foot and ankle surgery.
And make no mistake, this is a significant absence for Miami. When Herro’s on the floor, he's been electric-averaging 23.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting an ultra-efficient 50.5% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc. In just six appearances this season, he’s reminded everyone why he was an All-Star last year and why he remains Miami’s most dynamic scoring threat.
#MIAvsBKN INJURY UPDATE: Tyler Herro (toe), Nikola Jovic (elbow) and Pelle Larsson (ankle) have all been ruled out of tomorrow night's game vs the Nets.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 17, 2025
Norman Powell (left calf discomfort) is listed as questionable.
Without him, the Heat's offense has cooled off after a red-hot start. They still rank fifth in the league in points per game, but the efficiency has dipped. Miami now sits 15th in both offensive rating and effective field goal percentage-numbers that reflect a team searching for rhythm without its primary shot creator.
So, who steps up with Herro out? One name to watch: Davion Mitchell.
The former lottery pick has quietly carved out a key role for Miami this season, particularly as a playmaker. He’s averaging 7.7 assists per game and has dished out eight or more in 14 of his 25 games. When Herro is unavailable, Mitchell’s impact only grows-he’s averaged 7.3 assists in those contests and hit the eight-assist mark in nine of 19 games without Herro.
Thursday presents a prime opportunity for Mitchell to make his mark again. The Nets, who are struggling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, rank just 25th in opponent assists allowed per game. That sets the stage for Mitchell to take on a larger playmaking role, especially with Norman Powell listed as questionable.
While the Heat are still favored heading into this matchup, the absence of Herro means Miami will have to rely on its depth and ball movement to get the job done. Mitchell’s ability to orchestrate the offense could be the swing factor against a Brooklyn team that’s vulnerable to good guard play.
Herro’s return remains up in the air, but for now, the Heat will need to keep finding ways to generate offense without their top scorer. All eyes will be on Mitchell to see if he can rise to the occasion once again.