Simone Fontecchio was upgraded from out to day-to-day with an illness on Thursday's injury report. The Heat forward has an expected return date of Oct. 30, the day Miami hosts the Pacers.
What happened
Simone Fontecchio is day-to-day with an illness, according to the injury report released at 12:43 a.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 29. That is an upgrade from out, his status on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The report's comment still refers to that earlier status: "Fontecchio (illness) is out for Wednesday's game against the Hawks." The illness first appeared on Tuesday, Oct. 27, when he was listed as day-to-day. The report gives Oct. 30 as his expected return date. The 30-year-old forward's illness has moved from day-to-day to out and back to day-to-day in three days.
What it means for the Heat
Miami hosts the Pacers on Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m. ET. The Heat are 1-4 and 14th in the conference, coming off a win. Fontecchio has played a small role so far. In two games he has averaged 2.9 minutes, 0.0 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.0 assists. The Heat are 0-2 with him and 1-2 without him. In the games he missed, Davion Mitchell averaged 34.0 minutes and 16.4 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 31.5 minutes and 27.6 points. Andrew Wiggins logged 26.9 minutes, Bobby Portis Jr. 24.0 and Klay Thompson 19.9. Tim Hardaway Jr. averaged 19.5 minutes and 7.0 points.
What to watch
The next injury report before Friday's game against the Pacers should show whether Fontecchio is available. The report lists Oct. 30 as his expected return, which is the date of that game. If he is cleared, his minutes have been limited so far, so his return would not change much in the rotation. No other Heat players are on the current injury report. Miami is trying to build on its first win of the season.
Is Simone Fontecchio playing vs Pacers on Friday, Oct. 30?
That has not been announced. He is day-to-day with an illness, and the injury report lists Oct. 30, the day of the game, as his expected return.
When will Simone Fontecchio be back?
The injury report gives Oct. 30 as his expected return. He was upgraded from out to day-to-day on Oct. 29.