NBA Injury Roundup: Herro, Jovic, Trae Young, and the Wagner Brothers Facing Setbacks and Progress
Heat: Herro’s Return Hinges on Swelling, Not Just Pain Tolerance
Tyler Herro is trending in the right direction, but the Miami Heat guard still has a few hurdles to clear before he’s ready to suit up again.
Herro is with the team on its upcoming three-game road swing, which opens Thursday in Brooklyn. That’s a positive sign.
But the real issue isn’t pain-it’s swelling. And there’s a lot of it.
Herro has missed three of the last four games due to a bruised right big toe, and he admitted that practicing during the team’s five-day break may have been a misstep-literally and figuratively.
“I probably shouldn’t have practiced,” Herro said. “That kind of sparked things back up.”
Now, the focus is on managing inflammation and getting the swelling under control before targeting a return. It’s a frustrating situation for both Herro and the Heat, especially given how much he means to their offensive flow. He’s a key playmaker and shot creator, and without him, Miami has had to lean even more heavily on Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to carry the scoring load.
Jovic Avoids Major Injury, But Timeline Remains Uncertain
Nikola Jovic also finds himself on the injury report, but with a bit of relief mixed in.
The second-year forward took a hard fall in Monday’s game that left him with a right elbow contusion and a deep cut that required stitches. Jovic admitted he feared the worst at first.
“It didn’t look good,” he said. “But it’s not broken, so that’s the most important thing.”
Imaging confirmed there’s no fracture, which is a major sigh of relief for Miami. Still, Jovic is calling himself “week-to-week,” and given the nature of elbow injuries-especially for a player who relies on touch and mobility-it could be a little while before he’s back in full swing.
Hawks: Trae Young Nearing Return After G League Tune-Up
In Atlanta, there’s some real optimism brewing around Trae Young’s recovery.
The All-Star guard was assigned to the Hawks’ G League affiliate, College Park, on Tuesday for a practice session and then promptly recalled to the NBA club on Wednesday. That’s typically a strong indicator that a return is on the horizon.
Young hasn’t played since October 29 due to a sprained MCL, but working out with the G League squad is a key step in ramping up basketball activities without the full rigors of an NBA game. It’s not official yet, but Hawks fans should be on high alert-Young appears to be in the final stages of his rehab.
His return would be a massive boost for Atlanta, which has struggled to find rhythm offensively in his absence. While Dejounte Murray has taken on more of the playmaking load, the Hawks’ offense simply isn’t the same without Young’s deep shooting threat and pick-and-roll wizardry.
Magic: Wagner Brothers Staying Behind as Injuries Linger
The Orlando Magic will be without both Wagner brothers for their upcoming West Coast trip, and that’s a blow for a team that’s been one of the more pleasant surprises of the young season.
Franz Wagner is dealing with a left high ankle sprain, while Moritz Wagner continues to rehab from an ACL injury. Neither will travel with the team for its four-game road swing that begins Thursday in Denver.
Franz’s absence is particularly tough. He’s been a cornerstone for the Magic’s offense, blending scoring and playmaking with a steady defensive presence. Without him, Orlando will have to dig deeper into its wing rotation, likely leaning more on Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs to carry the scoring load.
As for Moritz, his return is still a longer-term project. The Magic have been cautious with his recovery, and there’s no indication they’re rushing the process.
Bottom Line
Injuries are part of the NBA grind, but for the Heat, Hawks, and Magic, the current wave is testing depth and patience. Herro and Jovic are key rotational pieces for Miami, and their absences are felt on both ends. The Hawks are inching closer to getting their franchise point guard back, while the Magic will have to navigate a tough road trip without two of their most versatile bigs.
The good news? None of these situations appear to be season-altering-yet. But as the calendar inches closer to the midway point, every game missed starts to matter just a little more.