Pelle Larsson and Andrew Wiggins each picked up an illness listing less than a day before tipoff, leaving Erik Spoelstra's rotation unsettled for tonight's preseason game against New Orleans. Miami sits at 0-0 but enters rested off a 129-105 win at Toronto on October 3, while the Pelicans close out a back-to-back on the second night in a row away from home.
Illness Hits Two
Larsson and Wiggins each landed on the injury log on October 7 with an illness designation, both carrying a listed return date of tonight. Spoelstra has not said whether either suits up against New Orleans, and no further detail on either illness has come out.
Pelicans On Fumes
Jamahl Mosley's club is playing its second consecutive true road game, grinding through the back half of a back-to-back with one day of rest. Miami has four days of rest and is coming off a 129-105 win at Toronto on October 3, where Hardaway scored 14 points and Larsson added 13 before his illness listing.
One Number
Fontecchio is shooting 70.8 percent true shooting over his last 10 games, a figure his season line does not reflect yet. The sample is still small, but it is the kind of efficiency Spoelstra can lean on if Larsson and Wiggins sit.
Health Elsewhere
Keshad Johnson stays sidelined by a hamstring issue, targeting October 26. Dru Smith is questionable, a right calf problem, aiming for October 16. Both numbers on the payroll side stay unchanged: Miami's $210.5 million sits above the $200.4 million luxury-tax line.
Bottom Line
Preseason records do not matter, but roster continuity does with the opener three weeks out. The Heat need Larsson and Wiggins cleared well before October 21, not just by tonight's tip against New Orleans.
Will Pelle Larsson and Andrew Wiggins play against the Pelicans?
Both are questionable with illness as of October 7, and Erik Spoelstra has not confirmed either for tonight's game.
When does Keshad Johnson return for the Heat?
Johnson is sidelined by a hamstring issue with a targeted return of October 26, which would mean missing the October 21 regular-season opener against Minnesota.
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