The Miami Heat put in a lackluster effort in Milwaukee that resulted in another loss. The Bucks pressured Miami at the end of the game while dealing another injury blow to them. And guess who got injured? One player that the Heat badly needed tonight: Nikola Jovic. So let’s take a look and see what happened and what is to come next.

Jovic played only 15 minutes before his night ended early. Before leaving with a fractured second metacarpal in his right hand, he scored 7 points on 75% shooting. He was ruled out by the Heat quickly for the rest of the game. 

The worst part? This season has just been a curse for Jovic. He suffered an ankle sprain in December and returned, only to re-injure it. A calf issue had him listed as probable in early February before this game. Now, with a shattered hand, he sits on the sidelines—and this time, when Miami needed him most.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, Coach Spo discussed Nikola Jovic’s importance to the rotation, saying, “He’s a big swing player for us in terms of when he plays well, it really moves the needle for us. If he doesn’t, we lack in some things that he can provide.”

The Serbian forward’s return remains uncertain, particularly considering he injured his shooting hand. However, data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that most NBA players with this fracture typically take about 57 days to heal (when surgery is necessary) or 26 days (when surgery is not necessary).

Talking about his fractured hand, Nikola seems unsure as to what exactly led to this injury. “I’m not sure exactly what happened. I just felt it [right hand] hurt a lot, and I guess it’s broken. It’s tough, I’ve been through some tough injuries before. My mom always says ‘Some things just happen for a reason…’ I’ll figure it out,” he shared, ending on a promising note.

For now, though, Jovic will travel with the Heat to Atlanta for Monday’s game before being evaluated by a specialist on Monday in Miami, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

However, with playoffs drawing near, it may be wise for Miami to be cautious.

What’s Next for Jovic and the Heat?

The loss of Jovic becomes a thinning of Miami’s depth from frontcourt playing spots. Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier, alongside Kyle Anderson, need to deliver better performances while Bam Adebayo will continue leading from the front. Jovic provided underrated versatility in Miami’s rotation, so losing him from the starting lineups means that the unpredictable quality of their starting lineups will be lost.

This injury also raises bigger questions about Jovic’s future with the team. The Heat has tried to carve out a meaningful role for him, but injuries keep disrupting his momentum. If this recovery takes longer than expected, Miami may need to reconsider his long-term fit. The fact that the young forward is also eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason is also a factor to keep in mind.

Meanwhile, the team remains locked in a tight battle for playoff positioning. With limited internal options, the Heat’s front office might have to explore adding reinforcements to keep their postseason hopes alive.

For Jovic, this injury is just another frustrating roadblock in what was supposed to be his breakout year. And for the Heat, it’s yet another challenge in a season already filled with health concerns and tough losses. With the playoffs approaching fast, they have no choice but to adjust. But losing Jovic at this stage? That’s a brutal blow at the worst possible time.

Now, all eyes turn to his recovery—and whether the Heat can hold things together without him.