Kyle Lowry injury update: Heat guard will miss Game 1 of second-round series vs. 76ers due to hamstring – ZellaNews

Miami Heat veteran level guard Kyle Lowry will miss Game 1 of his group’s second-round series towards the Philadelphia 76ers due to a hamstring injury, the group introduced Sunday. That similar hamstring injury occurred in Game 3 of Miami’s first-spherical victory over the Atlanta Hawks. It held him out of Games 4 and 5, each Heat victories as they superior to the second spherical. Now, it will maintain him out of the beginning of the second spherical.

Lowry, who turned 36 in March, missed 19 video games within the common season due to a spread of minor accidents and private points. Virtually each member of the Heat handled accidents sooner or later within the season, as Duncan Robinson was the one participant on the roster to miss fewer than 10 video games. Jimmy Butler additionally missed Game 5 of the primary spherical towards Atlanta due to knee soreness, however he has stated he plans to play in Game 1 towards the 76ers.

Philadelphia is Lowry’s hometown group. The Sixers have been within the operating to purchase him at each the 2021 commerce deadline and within the offseason earlier than an indication-and-commerce acquired him to Miami. That makes this a considerably private series for each Lowry and his shut buddy Butler, who performed for Philadelphia throughout the 2018-19 season.

With Lowry out, the Heat turned to Gabe Vincent within the beginning lineup in Games 4 and 5. He will doubtless stay there till Lowry returns, however the Heat must also anticipate extra minutes out of former All-Star Victor Oladipo, who began Game 5 in Butler’s place and scored 23 factors in 36 minutes. Oladipo returned late within the season and is simply now starting to ramp again up into the type of bodily situation wanted to play a significant function.

If Lowry goes to battle with this hamstring situation all through the postseason, the Heat will want Oladipo to occupy that kind of main function. Miami depends on Lowry on each ends of the ground, and whereas the 76ers are coping with a significant injury of their very own to Joel Embiid, future opponents will doubtless be more healthy. Having their very own roster at full power will be vital to their title hopes.