MIAMI -- As the Miami Heat were careening through last week's winless road trip, guard Norman Powell spoke about the constant need for changes amid an ever-changing injury report. The day after offering those comments, Powell, himself, was out.
Now add two more permutations for Erik Spoelstra to handle, with both Davion Mitchell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. at midday Thursday ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Boston Celtics at Kaseya Center.
Listed as out with a shoulder contusion, Mitchell was injured while attempting to maneuver defensively through a screen in Tuesday night's 127-121 home victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Thursday marks the third game missed by Mitchell this season. He previously sat out losses, on Dec. 6 against the Sacramento Kings, due to groin tightness, and on Dec. 19 against the Celtics, due to an ankle sprain.
Mitchell is in the first year of a two-year, $24 million free-agent contract signed with the Heat in the offseason, four months after he was acquired from the Toronto Raptors at the 2025 NBA trading deadline in the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.
When Mitchell went out Tuesday, Jaquez was among those who took over the responsibilities at point guard.
Like Mitchell, Jaquez also sat out Wednesday's practice, listed as out Thursday due to a sore left knee.
Jaquez played to the finish Tuesday night, going 31:11 and closing with 16 points and eight assists, closing without a turnover. Jaquez's final assist led to the Powell 3-pointer with 48.3 seconds to play that put the Heat ahead for good.
Jaquez had missed three previous games this season: the Nov. 29 home loss to the Detroit Pistons due to a groin strain; then the Jan. 4 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans; and Jan. 6 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves due to an ankle sprain.
Tyler Herro and Nikola Jovic, who both also sat out Wednesday's practice, were cleared at midday Thursday to return, with Herro listed with a rib contusion and Jovic with knee soreness.
Powell (back) and Pelle Larsson (finger) both also had been on the injury report but previously were listed as available.
Meanwhile, Heat two-way players Vlad Goldin, Jahmir Young and Myron Gardner remain on assignment in the G League, with Terry Rozier continuing on his NBA-invoked leave amid the FBI gambling probe.
The Heat have had their primary rotation available only four times this season.
Mitchell said there had been growing momentum in terms of continuity with that rotation, continuity again interrupted. "We're getting a better rhythm playing with each other, kind of playing off one another," he said. "I think we're still learning. Obviously we've only played, what, four to five games with a full, healthy roster? So we're still learning from one another and getting better each game."
The Heat's three-game homestand concludes Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch with the defending NBA champions of that matchup the Heat lost 124-112 Sunday at Paycom Center, a game Powell missed due to lower-back pain.
With the two both rivals and friends since entering the league together in the 2017 NBA draft, Heat center Bam Adebayo said a matchup against the Celtics is not the same with Jayson Tatum sidelined by last season’s playoff Achilles tear.
“That’s my brother,” Adebayo said. “I always talk about how a lot of guys I’ve been drafted with, we’ve known each other since we were like 12, growing up and watching each other, pave this way in our careers.
“Obviously you’re going to check up on somebody like that. And good to see him healthy, getting back to getting back on the court.”
Tatum has indicated the possibility of a return before or during the playoffs.
Having made a playoff statement with his chase-down block of a Tatum shot in the 2020 playoffs, Adebayo said his concern is his friend not forcing the issue.
“This is me talking as a brother, I wouldn’t want him to play. Don’t rush it,” Adebayo said. “I don’t particularly determine what he’s going to do. I wouldn’t want to see him back yet, just so he can have a full recovery.”