Nothing went in the Miami Heat's favour in Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals.
If losing in blowout fashion wasn't enough of a tough start to the series, they also saw three of their key players suffer various injuries throughout the contest.
Below, we'll keep you posted with any updates on the injuries of Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler.
Bam Adebayo – left shoulder sprain
Adebayo's physical play has helped the Heat reach the Finals, but his body has taken a toll, and we saw that play out in Game 1.
In a collision with Dwight Howard on a drive in the third quarter, Adebayo appeared to hurt his shoulder that was ailing from Miami's Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics.
Adebayo left the game and did not return, undergoing an X-ray on his left shoulder sprain that returned negative, according to the Heat.
#MIAvsLAL INJURY UPDATE: Bam Adebayo (left shoulder strain) will not return to tonight's game vs the Lakers. X-rays returned negative.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 1, 2020
The Heat originally listed Adebayo as doubtful for Game 2 with a "neck strain," but he's since been ruled out, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Heat are reportedly hopeful that he can return for Game 3.
Goran Dragic – torn plantar fascia in left foot
The biggest blow to the Heat comes from Dragic's Game 1 foot injury.
On an awkward play in the second quarter, Dragic came up hobbling, favouring his left foot. He would leave the game and not return, receiving X-rays before the game's conclusion.
After the loss, Dragic was diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
Dragic hasn't yet been ruled out for the series, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, but history of a torn plantar fascia doesn't favour the Heat's starting point guard.
Courtesy of The Athletic's Jared Weiss, NBA players have missed an average of 13 games with the injury in recent years.
Here's an old table of games missed for plantar fascia tears similar to Goran Dragic's injury from @InStreetClothes. Of course, most of these guys sat out to try to heal the injury, while Dragic could get a cortisone injection in the foot & try to play.https://t.co/GF1Ql3BSLB pic.twitter.com/wQf2NrSUB4
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) October 1, 2020
One player missing from that list is former All-Star Joe Johnson, who played through the very same injury in the 2013 NBA Playoffs. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, that didn't turn out too well for Johnson.
Joe Johnson suffered a torn plantar fascia in his foot during G2 of the 2013 first round vs. Chicago. Johnson would go on to receive an injection in his foot before each game. He would struggle shooting 25.6% from 3 and 41.7% from the field. 2/14 in a G7 loss.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 1, 2020
While Dragic hasn't been ruled out, it's unfair to expect the same version of Miami's leading scorer this playoffs.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Dragic has been ruled out for Game 2.
Jimmy Butler – left ankle sprain
Butler rolled his ankle on a drive in the second quarter of Game 1 but would play through the injury. He tweaked it again in the second half, but brushed off the severity of the ankle sprain postgame.
Butler said it was "a little bit sore," adding, "I'll be okay. Some treatment and get ready to go again. I gotta be ready to go. We'll see how it feels (Thursday), but I'll be fine."
Expect to see Butler in Game 2.
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