The Heat cleared Keshad Johnson on Wednesday, lifting the hamstring restriction that had kept him out since Oct. 2. He is available for Miami's season opener against the Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET.
What happened
Keshad Johnson came off Miami's injury report on Wednesday at 6:09 p.m. ET, cleared ahead of the Heat's season opener against the Nets. He had been listed as out since Oct. 2 with a hamstring issue. No further detail on the hamstring was given, and there was no comment attached to Wednesday's report. Johnson is now available for Miami's first game of the 2026-27 season, tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET, roughly an hour after his clearance.
What it means for the Heat
Johnson's return has limited bearing on Miami's rotation. He averaged 8.7 minutes a game last season, finishing with 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists over 32 appearances, a bench role rather than a core piece. With him sidelined, forward and wing minutes in preseason games ran through Bam Adebayo (32.4 minutes, 20.1 points), Andrew Wiggins (30.3 minutes, 15.4 points) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (28.3 minutes, 15.4 points). The Heat open the 2026-27 season at 0-0, so there is no record yet with or without Johnson on the floor. Tonight against the Nets is Miami's first game of the year.
What to watch
There is no return timeline attached to Wednesday's clearance beyond Johnson being available for tonight's opener; any further update would come on Miami's next injury report. The same Wednesday report listed Bam Adebayo as day-to-day with a groin issue, and Andrew Wiggins as day-to-day, so the Heat's rotation could still shift around tonight's tip-off and in the games that follow.
Is Keshad Johnson playing vs Nets?
Yes. The Heat cleared him off the injury report on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and he is available for the season opener against the Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET.
When will Keshad Johnson be back?
He is already back. Miami cleared him on Oct. 14 after he had been out since Oct. 2 with a hamstring issue, and no minutes restriction has been announced for the opener.