The Miami Heat lost their matchup with the Denver Nuggets during Monday night’s NBA slate in a 120-111 loss that wasn’t as close as the final score may indicate it was. Miami trailed by 20 at halftime and 17 going into the fourth quarter.
But, the game wasn’t the worst loss that Miami suffered that night. The biggest loss was starting center Bam Adebayo, who suffered a torn UCL in his right thumb and will be undergoing surgery to repair it.
Adebayo is expected to be sidelined for at least four to six weeks as he recovers from surgery. He can miss anywhere from 15 to 20 games based on that timeline. The only encouraging thing about having surgery on his hand is that he should be able to keep up his conditioning somewhat, so he won’t need much time to ramp things up once he is cleared to return to the court.
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Finding out about the injury is a shock as Adebayo was excellent in the second half against the Nuggets. He poured in 20 out of his 24 points in the third and fourth quarters, including going 3-for-3 on mid-range jump shots.
The 24-year old Adebayo has blossomed in his fifth season with the Miami Heat. He is averaging 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.9 minutes per game. The Kentucky product has developed into one of the best two-way players in the NBA.
He is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA as he can switch onto the perimeter with ease. Offensively, a lot of things are run through him and he has responded with some impressive performances.
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Replacing him will be virtually impossible for the Miami Heat. There just aren’t many players that can do what Adebayo is capable of, so it will be a team effort in trying to replace and replicate his production.
Miami is right in the thick of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks with a record of 13-8. Remaining that high up in the standings without Adebayo, who could miss nearly a quarter of the season, will be a tall task.
Dewayne Dedmond will likely step into the starting five in Bam Adebayo’s spot. Omer Yurtseven could also see a role in the rotation as the team remains without Markieff Morris, leaving Miami dangerously thin in the frontcourt.
