Miami Heat DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (hamstring) will be available on Wednesday against Cleveland after missing the previous two games. He's shaken off a hamstring injury and a questionable tag. Jovic will likely make another start on Wednesday, with Kevin Love (heel) still out and Bam Adebayo (back) joining him on the shelf. However, Jovic's numbers have remained underwhelming as a starter, and fantasy managers should definitely tame their expectations. The 20-year-old has recorded 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in a starting role this season.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (foot) will return to the lineup on Wednesday versus Cleveland. He will be back after missing two games with a foot contusion. We should see him take on a very large role, as Bam Adebayo (back) has been ruled out for the contest. Before getting hurt, Butler had upped his game and is averaging 21.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists for the month. However, Butler has struggled against the Cavaliers this season, posting only 13.0 points across 32.0 minutes across two previous meetings.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (back) won't play on Wednesday against Cleveland. He was a late addition to the injury report with a back issue, and the team has now ruled him out for Wednesday's game. Miami also remains without Kevin Love (heel), meaning Thomas Bryant should get a rare chance to shine, with Orlando Robinson working as his backup. Nikola Jovic (hamstring), who's returning to the lineup from a two-game absence, might get some extra work as well on the frontcourt. Bryant has averaged 12.1 points and 6.0 rebounds as a starter for his career, but he faces a difficult matchup on Wednesday against Jarrett Allen.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (foot) was seen putting up shots after Wednesday's morning shootaround. Butler remains formally listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a right foot contusion that has sidelined him for Miami's past two contests, but he appears to be on the right track to return with this news. The 34-year-old six-time All-Star is providing third-round value in 12-team nine-category leagues since returning the All-Star break, averaging 21.5 points on 50.0% shooting from the field, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.6 steals over his last 10 appearances. This clash figures to be a slow-paced defensive slugfest, with Cleveland ranking first in the East in defensive efficiency rating (108.5), but Butler might have a lot of usage on his plate with Tyler Herro (foot) inactive and Bam Adebayo (back) questionable.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (back) has been downgraded to questionable to play in Wednesday's game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers due to pain and swelling in his lower back contusion area. Adebayo is a late addition to the injury report, which is never a good sign,after appearing to come away unscathed from Monday's road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The star big man will likely go through pregame warmups before the Heat decide on his availability. With Nikola Jovic (hamstring) also iffy and Kevin Love (heel) already ruled out, Miami could be left with Thomas Bryant for a spot start at center. With that said, Bryant is only averaging 7.3 points on 45.0% shooting from the floor, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 19.6 minutes over three games as a starter this season and would be an uninspiring fantasy streamer with this matchup's implied total set at a pitiful 204.5 points.