Heat point guard Gabe Vincent is downgraded to OUT for Game 5 against the Celtics
Heat point guard Gabe Vincent is demoted to OUT for Game 5 of the conference finals against the Celtics after spraining his ankle in Game 4 loss…as former All-Star Kyle Lowry could see more time for Erik Spoelstra
- Lowry comes off the bench in Vincent’s favor so far this series
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The Miami Heat will be without starting point guard Gabe Vincent in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston on Thursday night.
Vincent was injured late in Miami’s Game 4 loss when he landed awkwardly on his left ankle while trying to save a loose ball off the Heat bench. He was re-recorded and returned to that game, but the effects of the ankle sprain resulted in the Heat relegating Vincent to out for Game 5.
Miami goes into Thursday with a 3-1 series lead.
The move could send Kyle Lowry into the starting lineup for Miami; he gets off the couch as Vincent starts.
Vincent started each of Miami’s first 15 playoff games. He averaged 13.1 points in the postseason, third best on the Heat behind Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
The Miami Heat will be without starting point guard Gabe Vincent in Game 5 on Thursday
Lowry (right) is coming off the bench so far this series in favor of Vincent (left).
Miami has gone through most of the playoffs without two other guards – Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo. Herro has been cleared to resume some basketball activities after recovering from a broken hand, but has at least a few more days to play. Oladipo will miss the rest of the season with a torn patellar tendon.
The undrafted Vincent, 26, is coming off his best NBA season.
He set career-high averages in minutes (25.9 per game) and points (9.4 per game), and was deadly against the Celtics, scoring 29 points in the Game 3 win.
Lowry, now 37, has struggled in this series, making just 35.5 percent of his field goal attempts and 25.3 minutes per game off the bench.