Heat lists Herro as out but could change mind. And Martin questionable with illness

Health issues created questions for the Heat on Saturday as Miami prepared for Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday in Denver (8 p.m., ABC).

Forward Caleb Martin missed practice because of an illness that the team lists as as a head issue; he’s listed as questionable for Game 2.

Meanwhile, Heat guard Tyler Herro was on the practice court with his teammates on Saturday in Denver. The Heat listed Herro as out for Game 2, but the team can still change his status before Sunday’s game, per NBA rules. So it’s not certain that he’s out.

ESPN has reported that Herro would return either in Game 2 or 3. The Heat has declined to give a timetable.

And center Cody Zeller (right foot sprain) is listed as questionable for Game 2.

Herro hasn’t played since he sustained a fractured right hand late in the first half of the Heat’s playoff opener against Milwaukee. The Heat said he would miss a minimum of six weeks; Sunday marked seven full weeks since the injury, which was surgically repaired.

Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 67 games (all starts) this season. He shot 43.9 percent from the field, 37.8 percent on three pointers and led the NBA and set a Heat record by shooting 93.4 percent from the free throw line.

As for Martin, he’s averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and shooting 44 percent on three pointers in the playoffs.

If he’s limited on Sunday, the Heat could turn to Kevin Love (who might get minutes regardless) and Haywood Highsmith, who scored 18 points in Game 2.

THIS AND THAT

▪ After scoring a personal playoff low 13 points on 6 for 14 shooting in Game 1, Jimmy Butler said Saturday: “I have to do a better job of being more aggressive. Yes, they have really good defenders, but I’ve seen really good defenders before. Maybe I need to get more layups, more dunks, more attempts at the rim to free our shooters more often.”

He said he won’t force shots in the sense that “I am going to continue to play the game the right way, pass to my shooters as I have the entire playoffs, the entire year. But I have to be more aggressive putting pressure on the rim. That makes everybody’s job a lot easier. They definitely follow suit when I’m aggressive on both sides of the ball. I have to be the one to kick that off the right way, which I will.”

Thursday marked the first time that the Heat has lost a Game 1 in the playoffs. “We’re OK,” Butler said. “We really are. We’re very calm. We have so much confidence still... Down, 0-1, we know we’re going to get to four [wins]. We’re in there laughing,... smiling.”

▪ Butler, asked what he would tell Max Strus after shooting 0 for 10 and Martin after shooting 1 for 7 in Game 1: “I need to say, ‘I am still going to throw you the ball. If you miss the next 10 and you’re open on the 11th one, I’m going to throw you the ball. I want you to take the same shots, because they are going to be there.... You’ve been the reason we’ve won so many games before.’... I have a lot of faith in those guys.”

▪ Even though the Nuggets led by as many as 24 and won by 11, coach Mike Malone said Saturday: “I don’t think we played well in Game 1. They were 5 of 16 on wide open threes. I told our players the fact they got wide open threes is problematic.

“If you think Max Strus is going to go 0 for 10 again, you’re wrong. Our pick and roll defense was poor. I’m not worried about what they’re going to do. I’m worried about the things we have to do better to win Game 2.”

▪ Strus said he moved past his Game 1 shooting “right away. You can’t dwell on it. Luckily, it was only Game 1 so we got more to play. But I’m ready. I wanted to play right after the game was over.”

▪ How did Denver limit the Heat to two free throws (an all-time playoff low) in Game 1?

“I understand what they’re trying to do,” guard Jamal Murray said. “They shoot a lot of threes, don’t have anyone going to the rim like that. We do a good job of setting our defense.”

Spoelstra said “we can be more aggressive. Whether it leads to more free throws, you can’t control that. Certainly the attacks, we didn’t have enough of them. The free throw disparity was appropriate. Maybe we could have gotten two, four, six more based on a call here or call there.”

▪ Denver All Star center Nikola Jokic on the Heat: “They don’t let their guard down. They always play at the same pace. That’s why they’re great.”