NBA Finals: Heat starters Goran Dragic, Bam Adebayo injured in Game 1
A rough first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals turned worse in the second for the Miami Heat as they lost starting point guard Goran Dragic and center Bam Adebayo.
Neither player returned in a dominant 116-98 Los Angeles Lakers win.
Shortly after Tyler Herro joined the starting lineup to start the half, the Heat announced that Dragic had suffered a left foot injury. Miami ruled him out in the fourth quarter. After the game, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported that Dragic had suffered a plantar tear and will need to be re-evaluated later.
Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic suffered a plantar tear and will be re-evaluated, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 1, 2020
A plantar tear is a serious injury. A recent player to sustain that injury is Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon, who was out for 54 days with a plantar tear during the 2018-19 season. However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Heat have not yet ruled Dragic out for the series.
Adebayo doesn’t return with shoulder injury
Center Bam Adebayo left the court later in the third quarter with a shoulder strain. The Heat confirmed the injury and ruled him out in the fourth quarter. X-Rays on his shoulder were negative.
Brutal start for Heat
Dragic averaged 16.2 points and 5.1 assists primarily coming off the bench during the regular season. He returned to the starting lineup in the bubble after rookie starter Kendrick Nunn suffered a setback after catching COVID-19 and averaged 20.9 points through the first three rounds of the playoffs. Dragic’s resurgence in the starting lineup is a big reason Miami advanced to the NBA Finals as a No. 5 seed.
Adebayo averaged 18.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.9 points and 2.6 blocks through the first three rounds of the playoffs and emerged as one of the best players in the bubble.
Either player missing time will be a significant blow to a team already facing a 1-0 deficit.
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