As the Miami Heat were set to take on the Toronto Raptors, the team received a late blow to its lineup. Sharpshooting guard Tyler Herro was ruled out of the game less than 30 minutes before tipoff, despite being activated to play earlier. Here’s what happened to him.

According to the Heat’s official statement, Herro has been ruled out due to a toe injury, a condition he has been dealing with over the last two weeks, which has already forced him to miss two games. He was initially listed in the team’s starting lineup, but will be replaced by Simone Fontecchio in the starting lineup.

He has been playing well this season after missing 19 games earlier this season with the toe injury and recovery from offseason surgery on his ankle. After returning, he has continued on his impressive play from last year, averaging 23.2 points, five rebounds and a steal on 50/40/90 shooting for the first time in his career.

This is just the latest loss for a team already facing injury issues to start the season. Other than Herro, forward Pelle Larsson, who has been a key starter in the early season, was sidelined with a left ankle sprain against the Orlando Magic, and reserve forward Nikola Jovic suffered a major injury tonight, falling hard on his elbow after going for a dunk attempt and having to exit with a brace on his arm.

The Heat have also struggling lately, losing four in the row and five of their last six after going on a six-game winning streak last month. Herro‘s loss is only going to worsen their chances of breaking the slump they’ve fallen into against the Raptors.

Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat Seek Reset After Parallel Slumps and Timely Break

The Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat entered tonight’s matchup ii similar positions, coming off NBA Cup quarterfinal exits and carrying four-game losing streaks in the matchup. The extended break since Tuesday for the Cup has offered both sides an opportunity for recovery and reflection early in the season, especially for two teams hovering around the top tier of the Eastern Conference, despite recent struggles.

For the Miami Heat, the focus has been leaning into the time for practice following their elimination to the Orlando Magic.  Head coach Erik Spoelstra has previously highlighted the value of uninterrupted work on the floor to address issues that surfaced during their previous stretch of games during a particularly congested stretch.

This pause has been about perspective for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram previously emphasized the importance of understanding the thin margin the team faces for error due to lineup instability, especially the loss of RJ Barrett. Other than the guard, the team has also missed Jamison Battle and Immanuel Quickley, but even amid the downturn, head coach Darko Rajakovic remains comfortable in his group’s standing. The team logged a strong mid-November showcasing what the team can be when healthy.

With both teams mirroring each other in style, defensive commitment, and conference standing, expect this matchup to be tightly contested, especially now with Tyler Herro set to sit out.