Vital Miami Heat player will not return for Minnesota Timberwolves game

Multiple Heat players were banged up in the first half, will be without one for the rest of the game.

Dec 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) celebrates with forward Nikola Jovic (5) against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat announced that forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. will not return for Saturday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after spraining his ankle in the second quarter.

Additionally, guard Norman Powell was listed as questionable to return earlier in the game after dealing with leg soreness, but made his return shortly thereafter.

Also, forward Nikola Jović dealt with a knee to the thigh but was back on the court almost immediately and was not in doubt to return.

Here's the rest of the injury report and pre-game preview:

---

INJURY REPORT

HEAT

Jaime Jaquez Jr.: Out - Ankle

Norman Powell: Available - Leg

Bam Adebayo: Available - Back

Nikola Jović: Available - Elbow

Pelle Larsson: Available - Ankle

Tyler Herro: Out - Toe

Keshad Johnson: Out - G League

Jahmir Young: Out - G League

Vladislav Goldin: Out - G League

Terry Rozier: Out - Not with team

TIMBERWOLVES

Terrence Shannon Jr.: Out - Foot

Joan Beringer: Out - G League

---

Game date, time and location: Saturday, Jan. 3, 5:00 p.m. EST, Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida

TV: TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun (South Florida), FanDuel Sports Network North (Minnesota)

Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida) 100.3 FM (Minnesota)

VITALS: The Miami Heat (19-15) and Minnesota Timberwolves (21-13) Timberwolves meet for the first of two regular season matchups. Last season, the teams split the series, 1-1, with each squad winning on the road. The Heat are 36-34 all-time versus Minnesota during the regular season, including 19-15 in home games and 17-19 in road games.

PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

G Davion Mitchell

G Norman Powell

C Kel'el Ware

F Andrew Wiggins

F Bam Adebayo

TIMBERWOLVES

G Donte DiVincenzo

G Anthony Edwards

C Rudy Gobert

F Jaden McDaniels

F Julius Randle

Betting Lines (via FanDuel Sportsbook)

Spread: Heat +6.5 (-132), Timberwolves -6.5 (+100)

Moneyline: Heat +230, Timberwolves -310

Total points scored: 228.5 (over -110, under -120)

QUOTABLE

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra: “I think this was an important one for us to get because this wasn't a game where we put 140 on the board. Bam and Kel'el were just terrific and physical on the glass. The 14 rebounds from Bam, 13 from Kel'el. But also the offensive rebounds, I think Bam had four, Kel'el, I think, had three, Wiggs had five."

"Detroit's a good defensive team, you're not just going to always be able to get to what you want to, particularly in the half-court. I thought our transition game was very good, but in the half-court they make it tough, so sometimes you just need to get some of those possessions in the mud and we were able to get some second opportunities and it's a different way for us to impact the game."

---

MORE MIAMI HEAT STORIES

Is Bam Adebayo the key to the Miami Heat landing a star?

When familiarity becomes a weapon for the Heat

Jaime Jaquez Jr. backs Norman Powell in stunning road Heat victory

---

For more Miami Heat information and conversation, check out Off The Floor.

---

Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at Twitter: @tropicalblanket