Without their star player, Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat persevered to take on the Indiana Pacers. The Heat’s troubles don’t seem to be ending. Between injuries and Erik Spoelstra committing errors, they desperately need some relief. But only worries so far! After falling 119-110 to Indiana, the side’s problems only keep growing, with new injury concerns emerging post-game. They hit plenty of threes but struggled with their two-point shots. What could’ve been a balanced .500 trip turned into a disappointing loss.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. left the Pacers game early after suffering an ankle injury and did not return, the team confirmed. The injury happened in the 3rd quarter. Before exiting, though, Jaquez had 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in 15 minutes of play.

With a back-to-back game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, Jaquez’s status for that matchup remains unclear. So far this season, the second-year forward from UCLA has stayed mostly healthy, missing only three games because of illness.

“Heat say X-rays on Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s right ankle negative. But Jaquez said he has had his share of sprains and seemingly expects to miss time.” He’s expected to miss Monday’s game against the 76ers, but the Heat’s next game isn’t until Sunday, Nov. 24, when they face the Mavs. So, he might only miss 1 game. His absence means more opportunities for Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, and Josh Richardson off the bench. Alec Burks, who hasn’t played in the last five games, might also get a chance to join the rotation.

After a strong rookie campaign, Heat fans are hopeful that Jaime Jaquez Jr. will continue to improve this season. He played 75 games last year, starting 20 of them, and earned a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie Team. Jr. averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals, with shooting splits of 48.9% from the field, 32.2% from beyond the arc, and 81.1% at the free-throw line.

The Heat fall short without Jaime Jacquez Jr.

The Heat’s goal on Sunday was simple: finish their six-game road trip at .500 and balance out their overall record. Unfortunately, that plan fell short with a 119-110 loss to the Pacers, who bounced back after their earlier defeat to the Heat on Friday. It left them with a 2-4 record for the trip and 5-7 overall, and things don’t get any easier. They face tough challenges next- the Sixers, Mavericks, and Bucks.

The Miami side is struggling to find their rhythm early in the season, unable to maintain any consistency. With Butler sidelined for a fourth consecutive game because of an ankle sprain, the Heat’s offense lacked cohesion and continued to miss easy shots around the rim. Despite strong performances from Tyler Herro (28 points), Bam Adebayo (24 points), and Robinson (20 points), they couldn’t keep up with Myles Turner’s 34-point effort for the Pacers.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. made an immediate impact in his rookie season, playing in 75 games and leading the team. His standout performances earned him a spot in the top 5 for Rookie of the Year voting and a place on the first-team All-Rookie squad. But with several key names probably missing crucial game time, can the Heat come out as winners?