The Miami Heat have been handed another injury blow as they try to make it past the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first-round series of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. After losing starter Tyler Herro to a broken hand in Game 1, the Heat will now also be without two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo.
Oladipo suffered a knee injury in a Game 3 win over the weekend and will miss the remainder of the postseason. According to Heat’s official press release, the veteran guard suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.
This is now the third major knee injury Oladipo has suffered in the past four years. He previously had surgeries on his right quadriceps tendon in 2019 and 2021. The injuries limited him to only 138 games since the start of the 2018-19 season.
“Yes, there are injuries. That is a part of this game. We understand that,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters on Sunday. “But the human side of it, when you see somebody that’s overcome so much, and he’s done it time and time and time again, and he always does it with an incredible positive spirit and a smile on his face even last night … that’s why I admire him so much.”
Victor Oladipo saw limited playing time with the Heat during the 2022-23 regular season, playing 42 games and averaging 10.7 points. He was expected to get a more prominent role in the playoffs after Herro’s injury, but Miami will now have to look elsewhere to fill the void.
