Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Drills six treys off bench
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Jakucionis contributed 20 points (7-12 FG, 6-10 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist in 32 minutes during Monday's 115-111 loss to Utah.
Jakucionis caught fire from beyond the arc yet again after going 6-for-6 from downtown Sunday against the Wizards. He's been an unlikely contributor from deep after averaging 0.9 made threes per game over his previous 26 matchups heading into Sunday's clash, but the Heat will undoubtedly take his strong contributions off the bench while without the services of Tyler Herro (ribs), Norman Powell (back) and Pelle Larsson (elbow).
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Erupts off bench in win
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Jakucionis accumulated 22 points (8-10 FG, 6-6 3Pt), six assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block over 26 minutes during Sunday's 132-101 win over the Wizards.
Jakucionis delivered a breakout performance Sunday, tying Bam Adebayo for the game high with 22 points in a dominant Heat win. The rookie guard was perfect from beyond the arc while setting a new career high in scoring and adding three stocks. Jakucionis hasn't been a fixture in head coach Erik Spoelstra's rotation this season, but outings like this could open the door to more opportunities for the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Left out of rotation Friday
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Jakucionis (coach's decision) went unused off the bench Friday in the Heat's 98-96 loss to the Celtics.
After playing in each of Miami's last 12 games while averaging 4.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 19.3 minutes per contest, Jakucionis found himself outside of the rotation as the Heat welcomed Norman Powell (personal) and Andrew Wiggins (hamstring) back from three- and one-game absences, respectively. Though Jakucionis is a superior playmaker to Dru Smith, the Heat appear to place more value in what Smith brings to the table defensively as the backup point guard in the second unit. With Davion Mitchell back to full health and Tyler Herro (ribs) perhaps returning at some point later this month, Jakucionis may not have a path to regular playing time now that Miami is inching closer to full strength.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Won't start Sunday
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Jakucionis is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Bulls.
Jakucionis had started the Heat's previous six games but will slide back to the bench with Davion Mitchell (shoulder) returning to the lineup. The rookie has come off the bench in 16 of his 24 appearances this season, averaging 3.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 12.6 minutes per contest as a reserve.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Good to go Sunday
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Jakucionis (face) is available for Sunday's game against the Suns.
Jakucionis will shake off his questionable tag due to a facial contusion and suit up in the second half of this back-to-back set. The rookie first-rounder has started each of his last two appearances and may remain in the starting five with Davion Mitchell (shoulder) set to miss a third straight game. Over his last five games (three starts), Jakucionis has averaged 4.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 17.2 minutes per contest.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Questionable to play Sunday
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Jakucionis is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Suns due to a facial contusion.
Jakucionis may have sustained the injury during Saturday's 147-116 win over the Jazz, when he logged 12 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and one assist over 17 minutes. Davion Mitchell (shoulder) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game, and if he and Jakucionis were both to be sidelined, then Dru Smith would be in line to enter the Heat's starting lineup.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Starting Thursday
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Jakucionis will start Thursday versus the Trail Blazers, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
This will be the third start of the season for Jakucionis, and he'll be joined in the first unit by Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Bam Adebayo. As a starter this season, Jakucionis has averaged 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.0 triples per contest.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Shifts to bench
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Jakucionis isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Warriors.
Jakucionis entered the starting lineup Saturday against Oklahoma City with Tyler Herro (rib) and Davion Mitchell (shoulder) out of commission. However, Jakucionis will return to his usual bench role Monday after Davion Mitchell was cleared to play. Jakucionis is averaging 3.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his last seven games as a reserve.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Dishes seven dimes in spot start
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Jakucionis provided three points (1-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt), five rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes before fouling out of Saturday's 122-120 victory over Oklahoma City.
The rookie first-rounder made his second NBA start Saturday due to the absence of Tyler Herro (toe/rib). Jakucionis didn't have a great scoring game, but he led the Heat in assists and has logged at least seven dimes in two consecutive games. His minutes have been inconsistent this season, but he has seen a bump in playing time as of late due to the absences of Herro, Davion Mitchell (shoulder) and Jaime Jaquez (knee).
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Handles increased role off bench
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Jakucionis had 12 points (3-4 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), five rebounds and eight assists across 27 minutes during Thursday's 119-114 loss to the Celtics.
With Davion Mitchell (shoulder) and Jaime Jaquez (knee) sidelined, Jakucionis played his most minutes since Dec. 19 in Boston, when he notched 17 points (5-13 FG), six rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes during his first career NBA start. Jakucionis has played more than 20 minutes only four times this season, so this performance appears to be an outlier.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Probable for Monday
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Jakucionis is probable to play Monday versus the Raptors due to left ankle soreness.
Jakucionis should be available for Monday's game, but that doesn't mean he'll play. He's made only one brief appearance for the Heat this season, which lasted one minute, and he missed both of his shot attempts.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Returns to G League
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Jakucionis was returned to the G League's Sioux Falls Skyforce on Tuesday, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Jakucionis was brought up to the NBA club for Monday's matchup with the Mavs, but he failed to see the court. He'll go back down to the G League to ensure he continues to get reps.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Back to NBA
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Jakucionis will be available Monday against the Mavericks, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Jakucionis was assigned to the G League on Monday morning, but he's since returned to the NBA club. The Heat are expected to be very thin against Dallas despite the expected return of Tyler Herro (foot), so Jakucionis has a chance to see his first minutes at the NBA level.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Heads to G League
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Miami assigned Jakucionis to the G League's Sioux Falls Skyforce on Saturday.
The rookie first-round pick has yet to make an appearance at the NBA level and is comfortably behind Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith on the depth chart at point guard. Jakucionis will get the chance to see his first extended minutes of the season for Sioux Falls in Sunday's game against the Windy City Bulls.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Available, unlikely to see minutes
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Jakucionis (groin) is available for Wednesday's game against the Nuggets, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Jakucionis has been dealing with a right groin issue since the preseason, but for the first time this season, the rookie will be in uniform. However, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Erik Spoelstra said pregame that Jakucionis isn't expected to see the floor. Jakucionis is buried on the depth chart, with point guards like Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith ahead of him.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Won't debut Tuesday
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Jakucionis (groin) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Hornets.
Jakucionis has yet to make his regular-season debut while dealing with a lingering groin injury. The Illinois rookie is projected to serve as a key reserve and the primary backup point guard to Davion Mitchell once healthy, but for now, Dru Smith will handle those duties. Jakucionis' next opportunity to take the court comes Thursday against the Spurs.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Sits out practice
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Jakucionis (groin) did not practice Monday, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Jakucionis has yet to make his rookie debut this season, and it sounds like he's questionable at best for Tuesday's game against the Hornets. Dru Smith will likely continue to absorb the backup point guard minutes in the meantime.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Won't play Wednesday
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Jakucionis (groin) won't play in Wednesday's game against the Magic, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Jakucionis has yet to return to practice since missing the final two preseason games for Miami. He did flash some promise in his limited preseason action, but he'll have to wait to make his debut. With Davion Mitchell expected to start at point guard, Dru Smith and Terry Rozier could be in the mix for some backup point guard minutes.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Doesn't practice Sunday
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Jakucionis (groin) did not practice Sunday, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Jakucionis was held out of Sunday's practice after missing the Heat's final two preseason games. The rookie is dealing with a groin injury that hasn't been fully detailed, leaving his status for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Magic uncertain.
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Heat's Kasparas Jakucionis: Out with groin injury
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Jakucionis won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Grizzlies due to a groin injury, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Jakucionis will sit out the preseason finale, and this will be his second straight absence after he also missed Monday's game against the Hawks. Right now, his status for Wednesday's season opener against the Magic is up in the air, which is far from ideal given how depleted the Heat are in terms of backcourt depth.
