Hobbled Heat rule out rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. for Game 5

Field Level Media|published: Tue 30th April, 16:39 2024

Apr 24, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) shoots against Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) in the second half during game two of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. credits: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Miami's injury woes are multiplying with the Heat trailing the Boston Celtics 3-1 in the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Already without starting guards Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck), rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. did not travel with the team to Boston and was ruled out for Game 5 on Wednesday because of a hip injury.

Jaquez started the first four games in the series but was injured in the fourth quarter of Miami's Game 4 loss to the Celtics. He had nine points in 22 minutes before leaving the game.

"I just felt something, felt something give in the hip, and we'll take it day by day as of now," Jaquez said after Game 4. "It was really just my hip, my right hip. I felt something give in the beginning in the third quarter going up for a rebound. I tried to get back in there, tried to give it everything I had."

Jaquez averaged 11.9 points per game during the regular season, and 12.8 points per game in the four playoff games against the Celtics.

—Field Level Media