Heat’s Bam Adebayo Sits Out Clippers Game with Back Injury

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo was ruled out of Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a sore lower back, stemming from a hard fall during Saturday’s game in Portland. Adebayo, who had appeared in all 37 games this season, warmed up at Intuit Dome but was ultimately sidelined and is now considered day-to-day.

“He’s been dealing with it for a few days,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s been getting a lot of treatment, and it kind of seized up on him this morning. We’ll treat it day-to-day and reevaluate him tomorrow.”

Adebayo’s absence leaves guard Tyler Herro as the only Heat player to have appeared in every game this season. The Heat were already without forward Jimmy Butler, who missed his sixth consecutive game due to “conduct detrimental to the team.” Additionally, veteran guard Josh Richardson was sent home for an MRI on his inflamed right heel, an injury that has kept him out since Nov. 18.

The Heat’s six-game Western Conference road trip concludes Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Butler is eligible to return Friday when Miami hosts the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center.

Adebayo, a key player for the Heat, is averaging 16.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists this season. His absence adds to the team’s challenges as they navigate injuries and disciplinary issues during a critical stretch of the season.