Nikola Jovic didn’t complete the Miami Heat’s decisive win on Friday due to a knee injury, but an insider from the team suggests it’s not a major issue.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the knee contusion that led Jovic to exit Friday’s game isn’t deemed significant. Despite starting, Jovic only played a little over 17 minutes in the team’s dominant 142-82 victory, the largest winning margin in Heat franchise history.
During his brief appearance, Jovic added five points to his team’s overall score, with 11 different Heat players contributing to the scoring.
Miami is set to play against the struggling Washington Wizards on Sunday, with Jovic listed as probable for the game. Earlier this month, he was dealing with a hamstring strain, which was noted on the injury report.
In November, Jovic had to clarify comments made by a Serbian outlet that suggested he might be discontent with his role on the team.
At 20 years old, Jovic has been averaging 6.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game over 37 appearances this season. After a stint in the G League, he started seeing more consistent playing time in the NBA around the start of 2024.
There’s speculation among some NBA circles that Jovic could emerge as a surprise asset for the Heat during the playoffs, provided they qualify.
With the regular season winding down, the Heat are aiming to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference and could benefit from a full roster. Currently holding a 40-33 record, they sit in seventh place, just two games behind the Orlando Magic for fifth place in a closely contested race that includes the sixth-place Indiana Pacers.
The top six teams in the conference will secure direct spots in the playoffs, while the subsequent four teams in the standings will have to compete in the play-in round to progress. Miami followed that path last season and ultimately reached the 2023 NBA Finals.
Though a 60-point win against any level of opponent bodes well for their current level of play, the Heat will look to solidify their status over the nine games they have remaining in the regular season.