Pelle

Larsson

Larsson should be able to play through this ankle injury once again, though he didn’t see the floor in their last game despite being available. Larsson has had some solid games this year, but his role has been too inconsistent to justify rostering him in redraft leagues.

Jovic injured his ankle during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s win over Orlando and did not return. With Jimmy Butler and Josh Richardson ruled out, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Alec Burks will play more minutes regardless of Jovic’s availability. If Jovic sits, there may also be room in the rotation for Pelle Larsson, who did not play against Orlando.

Briefly considered questionable for Thursday’s game after initially being cleared to play, Larsson is officially set to play. He’ll be one of the wing options available to Erik Spoelstra, but the rookie should not be considered a “must-stream” player with Jimmy Butler sidelined.

Initially listed as available for Thursday’s game, Larsson is now questionable. That doesn’t bode well for his availability, and the Heat are already without Jimmy Butler. Larsson’s absence alone doesn’t impact fantasy basketball, as Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are available.

The third-year man appeared in 14 games for the Heat this season and posted career highs across the board. It’s a gut-wrenching injury for a player so close to earning a standard contract. Smith averaged just over 19 minutes per game for Miami, and that playing time could be absorbed in part by Pelle Larsson.

Smith had a pretty nasty injury that some reports are calling a knee injury, while others are saying that it’s an Achilles. The team is saying lower left leg, so we’ll have to wait and see what the diagnosis ends up being. For now, Pelle Larsson should play some extra minutes in place of Smith for this game.

Rozier was initially listed as probable for this game, so his absence does come as a surprise. With Jimmy Butler also sidelined, there will be plenty of minutes for Dru Smith, Pelle Larsson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. on the perimeter.

Due to his ankle injury, Jovic has missed nine of Miami’s last ten games. He’s been cleared to play on Friday, as has Larsson. The second-round pick out of Arizona is back after a four-game absence. Due to Miami’s depth at the small and power forward positions, both players may be in the rotation, but there won’t be enough playing time to impact fantasy basketball.

Larsson has missed three games with a sprained ankle. Terry Rozier, Dru Smith and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have handled the perimeter bench minutes themselves. If Larsson were to miss Friday’s game, Smith would make sense as a streaming option on a short slate.

Larsson will miss a third straight game, which will allow Terry Rozier, Dru Smith and Jaime Jaquez Jr. to dominate the perimeter minutes off the bench. Rozier and Smith have been playing larger roles than Jaquez, and Smith should be a sneaky streaming option with only three games being played.