MILWAUKEE (AP) — Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro says he will undergo surgery Friday for his broken right hand and likely won’t return this postseason unless his team wins the Eastern Conference title.
Herro said Tuesday that the injury requires four to six weeks of recovery. The conference finals start in mid-May and Game 1 of the NBA Finals is June 1.
Herro said the extent of his rehabilitation likely meant he could return closer to the NBA Finals rather than the conference finals.
“That’s the hope,” Herro said. “Get to the finals and I can get back for that.”
Herro injured his hand Sunday while diving for a loose ball late in the second quarter of the Heat’s 130-117 victory over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. Game 2 is Wednesday in Milwaukee.
“I watched the video and I still don’t know like where I hit my hand,” said Herro, a Wisconsin native who graduated from Whitnall High School in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield. “I still don’t know. I probably shouldn’t have dove on it, but I was trying to create some energy. We were on the road, in my hometown. Just trying to play hard.”
Herro’s injury leaves the Heat without their third-leading scorer behind Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists during the regular season.
“Being in the playoffs, you work so hard all year to be in this moment,” Herro said. “I feel like I had some things to prove this postseason. It was a tough moment. I still can’t believe it.”
TOP PHOTO: FILE – Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) is fouled by Chicago Bulls guard Coby White during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game, Friday, April 14, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)