Heat Hope to Get Tyler Herro Back as They Battle Hawks in Playoff Race

Miami's star guard has missed 45 games this season due to injuries but could return as soon as Friday's matchup with Atlanta.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 1:23pm

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The Miami Heat are hoping to get a boost to their playoff hopes with the potential return of star guard Tyler Herro, who has missed 45 games this season due to various injuries. Herro returned to practice on Thursday and is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Atlanta Hawks, who are also in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference. The Heat have gone 5-5 over their last 10 games and are currently the 8th seed in the East, just 1.5 games out of avoiding the play-in tournament. The Hawks, meanwhile, are in 9th place and trail Miami by 2.5 games.

Why it matters

Herro's return would be a major boost for the Heat as they battle to secure a playoff spot. The 23-year-old guard is averaging 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game this season and has had success against the Hawks in his career, averaging 19.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 20 games. The Heat have a history of developing undrafted free agents into key contributors, and their latest find, Myron Gardner, has impressed in his 26 games with the team this season.

The details

Herro has missed significant time this season due to an offseason ankle injury, a toe contusion, and a rib injury. He returned to practice on Thursday and said he feels as good as he did last year. The Heat have gone 5-5 over their last 10 games, while the Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Atlanta's Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 10 rebounds in that game, while CJ McCollum scored 23 off the bench.

  • Herro has missed 45 games this season due to various injuries.
  • Herro returned to practice on Thursday and is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Hawks.
  • The Heat and Hawks will play each other for the third time this season on Friday, with the Heat winning 126-111 in Atlanta on Dec. 26 and the Hawks prevailing 127-115 on Feb. 3.

The players

Tyler Herro

A 23-year-old guard for the Miami Heat who has missed 45 games this season due to injuries but is expected to return as soon as Friday's game against the Hawks.

Jalen Johnson

A forward for the Atlanta Hawks who had 32 points and 10 rebounds in the team's win over the 76ers on Thursday.

CJ McCollum

A guard for the Atlanta Hawks who scored 23 points off the bench in the team's win over the 76ers on Thursday.

Myron Gardner

An undrafted rookie forward for the Miami Heat who has impressed in his 26 games with the team this season, averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds.

Quin Snyder

The head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

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What they’re saying

“I feel just as good as last year, actually. It's been real, real frustrating. As a competitor, somebody who loves playing the game more than anything, that's what I do. I love to the game of basketball, and it's hard for me to just sit out and not be able to play.”

— Tyler Herro

“Wins don't come easy. I think the way that we played, we put in some time, and I thought our guys were focused. Maybe most important, when we got a little bit of a lead, we didn't give it back. I thought we stayed connected. We didn't do everything right, but we made plays.”

— Quin Snyder, Hawks coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.