The Miami Heat faced an unexpected setback early in their matchup against the Pistons, as Nikola Jovic had to leave the game following a collision in the first quarter. Jovic sustained a nose injury—specifically, a reduced septum—after colliding with Malik Beasley. The injury sent him back to the locker room, and the Heat have confirmed he will be out for the remainder of the game.

He finished the night with two points and one rebound in three minutes. With Nikola Jovic now sidelined, Jaime Jaquez, Haywood Highsmith, and Duncan Robinson are likely to see increased playing time as the team adjusts.

That said, what exactly is this reduced septum? In medical circles, it is more popularly known as deviated septum. And frankly, that is more or less self-explanatory. At least, the first part. As the name suggests, a reduced or deviated septum (the cartilage and bone that separates your nasal cavity) has “deviated” or shifted from its natural, midline position.

For some, they are born with it. But for others, like Jovic here, a bad nose injury can cause a reduced septum. Of course, surgery can take care of the problem. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Up to 80% of the general population has nasal septum deviation.” It only becomes a problem when those with a deviated septum experience difficulty in breathing, sleeping, nosebleeds, and more.

There have been no further updates in the case of Nikola Jovic. But for minor nasal injuries where deviation does not significantly obstruct breathing or require surgery, players may return within a few days to a week. In such cases, they often use protective face masks to avoid further injury on the court, like Brandin Podziemski is, currently, recovering from a broken nose.

However, if surgery (septoplasty) is needed, recovery could take longer, typically ranging from two to six weeks, depending on how quickly swelling or tenderness subsides. This setback unfortunately comes in the wake of a stunning outing by the 21-year-old in Miami’s close win over the Timberwolves previously.

Nikola Jovic makes his case despite bench role in win over Timberwolves

Since the second half of last season, the 6’10 Serbian has been a regular in the starting lineup. Looking to build a chemistry with the Heat starters, Jovic has effectively filled the power forward role. Until Miami’s 112-115 loss at the hands of the Suns. Coach Spoelstra, watching Haywood Highsmith put together a strong performance, opted to start with him in the second half in place of Nikola Jovic.

But Jovic knew that Coach Spo was forced to make that decision. “I won’t say I was great. … The shots you get, you got to make them, especially with that first unit. … I’m for sure not happy. I know I’m a lot better than that.” 

Well, he showed that he was, in fact, a lot better as he led the team off the bench against Minnesota with 15 points as he shot 6-of-11 from the field, along with seven rebounds. But what really made his day (and the team’s) was his go-ahead bucket that won the game.

With just nine seconds left on the clock and the Heat trailing by two, Duncan Robinson made a key play, finding Nikola Jovic wide open after a screen from Terry Rozier. Jovic took advantage of the opportunity, converting the bucket and drawing a foul in the process. The resulting free throw gave the Heat a one-point lead, putting them in control with seconds remaining.

As the Heat navigates through Jovic’s injury, the young forward’s recovery will be key to his continued impact. Fans and teammates alike will hope for a swift return, especially with Jovic proving that he’s capable of more than just filling in—he can lead when it counts.