Is Gabe Vincent playing tonight? Latest injury update for Heat vs. Celtics, Game 5

Gabe Vincent has been huge for the Miami Heat throughout the posteason, but an ankle sprain could disrupt their rotations for Game 5 against the Celtics.

Jimmy Butler has gotten the headlines but Gabe Vincent has been absolutely essential during this Miami Heat postseason run. Assuming extra minutes and offensive responsibility after the injury to Tyler Herro, Vincent has been the Heat’s third-leading scorer, averaging 13.1 points and 4.1 assists, shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Vincent came up with 17 big points in the Heat’s Game 4 loss but left the game in the fourth corner after rolling his ankle. He went to the locker room but returned before the end of the game, however, his status has been a huge question mark as the Heat prepared for Game 5.

Will Gabe Vincent be available for Game 5 against the Celtics?

According to Shams Charania, Vincent has officially been ruled out for Game 5. This opens an enormous hole in the Heat rotation and who will replace him is a big question mark.

Veteran Kyle Lowry seems like the obvious solution, given his production and experience but, as The Ringer’s Michael Pina pointed out, it’s also possible that Spoelstra keeps Lowry on the bench to leave his second-unit intact and instead inserts someone like the red hot Duncan Robinson into the starting lineup.

Going with Robinson would insert more shooting but also create some potential mismatches. In that case, Butler would become the Heat’s de facto point guard perhaps forcing the Celtics to change how they defend him, or risk putting a smaller defender like Marcus Smart onto the 6-foot-7 Robinson.

Heat fans may be hoping for an appearance by Tyler Herro, who has not played since Game 1 of the first round because of a broken hand. Herro was recently cleared to resume basketball activities but is also listed as out on the official injury report for Game 5.

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