Smith won't start Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Magic.
With most of Miami's regulars resting during the preseason finale, Smith drew a spot start. However, aside from Josh Richardson (shoulder), the Heat are healthy heading into the regular season, so Smith isn't guaranteed playing time on Opening Night.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Starting preseason finale
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Smith is in the starting lineup for Friday's preseason game against the Grizzlies.
The Heat are resting most of their regulars in the preseason finale since the start of the regular season is right around the corner. Smith will get the nod at point guard in place of Terry Rozier (rest) and will play alongside Pelle Larsson in the backcourt.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Back in Miami
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Smith (knee) agreed to a two-way contract with the Heat on Monday.
This signing presumably means that Smith has returned to health following a season-ending knee injury that limited him to nine games during the 2023-24 campaign. He averaged 4.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals in nine appearances before going down with the injury. Smith figures to split time between the Heat and the club's G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
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Dru Smith: Cut by Miami
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The Heat plan to waive Smith (knee) on Tuesday, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Smith is out for the season after tearing his right ACL in November, so Miami opted to move on from him to clear up a roster spot for veteran guard Patty Mills, who was recently bought out by Atlanta. The 26-year-old Smith averaged 4.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 14.6 minutes per contest across nine appearances for Miami before suffering the season-ending injury and undergoing surgery.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Season over
Rotowire
The Heat announced Friday that Smith (knee) is expected to miss the remainder of the season, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.
An MRI revealed a third-degree right knee sprain for Smith, which will result in a premature end to his season. The second-year guard averaged 4.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 triples across 14.6 minutes in nine games. His absence will thin the depth in Miami's backcourt until they make a corresponding move.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Out Friday, getting MRI
Rotowire
Smith (knee) is out for Friday's matchup against the Knicks and will be getting an MRI that day, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Smith's role has fluctuated this season based on teammate availability, but now he's the one dealing with an injury. Even if his MRI returns clean, it seems unlikely he'd play Saturday against the Nets, either.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Suffers knee injury, ruled out
Rotowire
Smith won't return to Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers due to a right knee injury.
After jumping to contest a three-pointer, Smith's right leg came down into what appeared to be an opening underneath the Cavaliers bench, and the guard immediately left the contest. He won't return with what is being called a right knee injury, and he'll finish the contest scoreless over one minute. Expect Josh Richardson and Jaime Jaquez to see more work off the bench. Smith's next chance to play will come Friday against the Knicks -- the first game of a back-to-back set.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Upgraded to standard contract
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The Heat signed Smith to a multi-year standard NBA contract Saturday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
After making 15 NBA appearances in 2022-23 between the Heat and Nets and averaging 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10.5 minutes, Smith re-signed with Miami on a two-way pact in July. The Heat had an opening on the 15-man roster, and Smith will ultimately step in to fill the void while Miami keeps Cole Swider, R.J. Hampton and Jamal Cain as its three two-way players heading into the start of the regular season. It's unclear if Smith will open the season with a regular spot in head coach Erik Spoelstra's rotation.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Cleared to play
Rotowire
Smith (hamstring) is available for Wednesday's preseason game against the Nets, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Smith missed the previous contest due to a hamstring injury but will be back in action Wednesday. He figures to handle a major role, as Miami has a handful of regulars sidelined versus Brooklyn for various reasons.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Out with hamstring issue
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Smith won't play in Sunday's preseason game against the Grizzlies due to a hamstring injury, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Smith was solid in a spot start Friday, posting 13 points in 26 minutes, but it appears he picked up a hamstring injury as well. It's unclear how severe the injury is, but his next chance to suit up will come Wednesday against Brooklyn.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Puts up 13 points in loss
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Smith racked up 13 points (5-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds and three assists across 26 minutes in Friday's 120-104 preseason loss to the Spurs.
Smith got the start at point guard with several regulars being rested, and he delivered a strong performance despite the loss. Smith is currently playing on a two-way deal, and given the Heat's depth in the backcourt, he's expected to begin the season in the G League with Sioux Falls.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Gets start Friday
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Smith will start Friday's preseason game against the Spurs, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
The Heat have 10 players ruled out, including all of their normal starters. Smith will be joined by Duncan Robinson, Jamal Cain, Haywood Highsmith and Thomas Bryant in the starting five, and they all figure to play heavy minutes with Miami shorthanded.
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Heat's Dru Smith: Signs two-way deal with Heat
Rotowire
The Heat signed Smith to a two-way contract Saturday, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Smith played for the Heat in the beginning of 2022-23 before being waived and picked up by Brooklyn. In 15 appearances between the Nets and Heat last season, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10.5 minutes. Smith will split time between the NBA and G League in 2023-24.
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Nets' Dru Smith: Posts efficient shooting line
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Smith scored 19 points (9-12 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 0-1 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in 37 minutes Saturday against the Charge.
Smith led Long Island's bench in scoring with 19 points and he did so by knocking down 75.0 percent of his tries from the field. He also crashed the glass for seven rebounds, tying RaiQuan Gray for the team lead.
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Nets' Dru Smith: Tallies 15 points in loss
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Smith amassed 15 points (5-10 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-4 FT), seven rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes Friday against the Charge.
Smith made 50.0 percent of his tries from the field and added six points from beyond the arc. He finished the night second on his team in rebounds, tallying three of his seven boards on the offensive glass.
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Nets' Dru Smith: Tallies 19 points as reserve
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Smith collected 19 points (7-14 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-3 FT), three rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block in 33 minutes Tuesday against Motor City.
Smith returned to form after being held to only nine points Feb. 26 against Austin. He shot with efficiency from the field (50.0 percent) and also distributed the basketball, tallying his highest assist total since Jan. 7.
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Nets' Dru Smith: Steps in as backup point guard
Rotowire
Smith supplied five points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3Pt), two rebounds and two steals over 12 minutes in Tuesday's 116-112 loss to the Suns.
With trades and injuries having tested the Nets' depth of late, Smith has assumed backup point guard duties for the NBA team the past two games after he had played exclusively in the G League since inking a two-way deal with Brooklyn on Jan. 13. Though Smith averaged a respectable 3.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 12.5 minutes behind back-to-back losses to the Clippers and Suns, he'll presumably be headed out of the NBA rotation and back to the Long Island Nets if the newly acquired Spencer Dinwiddie is available to pay Thursday against the Bulls.
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Nets' Dru Smith: Catches fire from three
Rotowire
Smith logged 24 points (9-11 FG, 6-7 3Pt), two rebounds, four assists and one steal in 30 minutes Saturday against Motor City.
Smith was nearly unstoppable from beyond the arc in this one, hitting six of seven tries to account for 18 of his 24 points on the evening. He also finished second on Long Island behind Chris Chiozza with four assists.
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Nets' Dru Smith: Leads bench in scoring
Rotowire
Smith tallied 13 points (6-12 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT), 12 rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes Monday against Grand Rapids.
Smith led Long Island's reserves in scoring, rebounds and minutes. He didn't find much success from deep, but he fared better inside the three-point arc, knocking down 50.0 percent of his field-goal attempts.
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Dru Smith: Stuffs statsheet
Rotowire
Smith recorded 24 points (10-20 FG, 1-7 3PT, 3-4 FT), six assists, five rebounds and five steals in 40 minutes of Sunday's 123-110 win over Ontario.
Smith put together a strong two-way performance, logging 24 points on 50 percent shooting while leading the Skyforce in steals with five. Through three regular season games, Smith has averaged 23.3 points,7.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 steals across 39.6 minutes per game.
