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The Miami Heat will likely have three players who all will compete for minutes in the rotation Saturday.
The Heat’s official Twitter account announced Friday that Justise Winslow and Wayne Ellington, who have yet to play this season, practiced today and are probable for Saturday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Derrick Jones Jr., who started at power forward for the Heat to open the season, is also listed as probable.
#PORvsMIA INJURY UPDATE: Derrick Jones, Jr. (foot), Wayne Ellington (foot) & Justise Winslow (hamstring) all participated in today’s practice & are all listed as probable for tomorrow’s game vs the Blazers.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 26, 2018
Dion Waiters (ankle) & James Johnson (hernia) have both been ruled out.
Erik Spoelstra started Kelly Olynyk in Wednesday’s home victory over the New York Knicks with Jones’ foot injury keeping him out. But how will Jones fit into the rotation if Justise Winslow returns?
Moreover, how will Ellington’s return reshuffle the lineup? Rodney McGruder has played superbly to open the season — averaging 16.5 points while covering a league-leading 2.86 miles per game — so he may remain as the starting shooting guard. And Dwyane Wade will get 20-25 minutes per game. Tyler Johnson has seen his minutes dip from 28.5 to 24.5 from last season through the first four games of the season. Will Ellington move Johnson out of the rotation?
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