MIAMI — Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic left Monday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors with his right arm in a protective brace after a hard fall when he was fouled in the first quarter.
The Heat initially listed it as an elbow injury, ruling him out for the night.
Jovic, who had been held out of the rotation in two of the previous three games, got the opportunity for the playing time with Tyler Herro (toe) and Pelle Larsson (ankle) sidelined for the Heat.
Herro was a late scratch due to the toe issue that previously had sidelined him for two games last week.
Jovic entered Monday night’s game with 3:50 to play in the opening period and was forced out 12 seconds later.
Because Jovic was unable to shoot the free throws from the foul on Toronto’s Collin Murray-Boyles, the Raptors were allowed to select the replacement shooter. They selected seldom-used forward Keshad Johnson, who entered 7 of 11 from the line, making both replacement free throws.
Johnson then remained in the game, taking the minutes that would have gone to Jovic.
A stretcher initially was brought to the court, with Jovic instead able to walk off the court while assisted.
Jovic signed a four-year, $62.4 million extension in the offseason that goes into effect starting next season.