Injury news and observations from Heat’s Red, White & Pink scrimmage on eve of preseason opener

After a week in the Bahamas for training camp, the Miami Heat kicked off this week with an intrasquad scrimmage open to the public.

The Heat took part in its annual “Red, White & Pink Game” in front of fans on Monday night at Kaseya Center. Tickets for the scrimmage cost $7 each, with proceeds benefiting cancer care and research at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.

“It’s a celebration,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked about the significance of the event. “Really, it’s a celebration for all survivors and all those that are working to find a cure for this disease. I think there’s great inspiration from a night like tonight.”

The Heat returned most of last season’s roster that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs amid season-long injury issues. But there are also some new faces who were able to play in front of the Miami crowd on Monday.

The Heat’s roster, which is currently at the NBA’s preseason maximum of 21 players, includes 14 players signed to guaranteed standard contracts: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith, Kel’el Ware, Kevin Love, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Josh Richardson, Nikola Jovic, Thomas Bryant, Alec Burks and Pelle Larsson.

The Heat also has one player signed to a non-guaranteed standard contract (Nassir Little), three players signed to two-way deals (Josh Christopher, Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith), and three players signed to Exhibit 10 contracts that are essentially preseason tryout deals (Caleb Daniels, Zyon Pullin and Isaiah Stevens).

Rosters must be cut to a maximum total of 18 players (15 on standard contracts and three on two-way contracts) by the start of the regular season. The Heat opens the regular season on Oct. 23 against the Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center.

Monday’s scrimmage consisted of four 10-minute quarters. Here are some observations from the intrasquad game:

▪ Three Heat players did not play in the scrimmage because of injuries.

Herro was held out because of a right groin strain, but his injury did not require an MRI since it is believed to be a slight strain. Herro has already been ruled out for Tuesday’s preseason opener against the Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., and he has been labeled by the team as day-to-day.

Jaquez also did not play in the scrimmage, as he’s dealing with a left groin strain. He underwent an MRI, but nothing concerning was revealed. Jaquez has also been labeled by the team as day-to-day and has been ruled out of Tuesday’s preseason matchup against the Hornets.

In addition, Richardson, who continues to rehab from March surgery on his right shoulder, did not play on Monday and he will also miss Tuesday’s preseason game against the Hornets. Richardson was the only player on the Heat’s roster who wasn’t full-go at the start of training camp and his availability for the regular-season opener is up in the air.

“Everybody can take a big breath. Everything is OK,” Spoelstra said when asked about the Heat’s injuries following the scrimmage. “This is not a storyline about new protocols. This is just the appropriate thing right now. They’re all day-to-day. Jaime and Tyler are day to day. J-Rich is on a different deal. But I expect Tyler and Jaime to be back in full contact soon. But they’re already doing a lot of stuff.”

▪ This was an event for the fans and the players had fun with it.

Very little defense was played and there weren’t many fouls committed. There was an All-Star Game feel to the intrasquad scrimmage.

So take these observations for what they’re worth.

▪ For those on lineup watch, the Red Team opened the scrimmage with a lineup of Adebayo, Jovic, Butler, Burks and Rozier. The opposing White Team began the scrimmage with a lineup of Bryant, Highsmith, Robinson, Larsson and Smith. Players switched between teams throughout the scrimmage.

If Herro was available, he likely would have begun the scrimmage on the Red Team in Burks’ spot to complete the Heat’s projected opening night starting lineup of Rozier, Herro, Butler, Jovic and Adebayo.

“He didn’t do anything to not at least have us look at that,” Spoelstra said of Jovic continuing to play with the Heat’s starters after closing last season as the team’s starting power forward. “His best basketball was at the end of the year and into the playoffs. That was really important for him.”

▪ Adebayo’s improved three-point stroke was on display, as he was already 3 of 3 from three-point range in the first three minutes of the scrimmage. He finished the night with 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting from deep in 19 minutes

The development of Adebayo’s outside shot continues to intrigue after his three-point surge late last season. Adebayo shot 14 of 28 (50 percent) on threes during his final 17 regular-season games last season, closing with career highs in three-point makes (15) and three-point attempts (42).

▪ Butler was scoreless and didn’t take a shot in the scrimmage. He played 12 minutes in the first half and did not play in the second half.

▪ Rozier closed the scrimmage scoreless, but did finish with four rebounds and seven assists in 19 minutes.

▪ Jovic finished the scrimmage with seven points on 1-of-4 shooting on threes.

▪ Robinson scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range in the scrimmage.

▪ Larsson was one of the newcomers who stood out in Monday’s scrimmage.

Larsson, who the Heat selected in the second round of this year’s draft, started fast with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 on threes, three rebounds and one assist in the first quarter. The 6-foot-5 guard scored multiple baskets on sharp off-ball cuts.

Larsson finished the “Red, White & Pink Game” with 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 1-of-6 shooting on threes, four rebounds and nine assists.

“He’s an elite role player,” Spoelstra said of Larsson. “If you mention that to some organizations, they probably think that that’s horrible. I think it fits absolutely with our style of play, our culture, how we view players and how they impact winning.”

▪ Ware, the Heat’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, totaled 10 points and eight rebounds in the scrimmage.

▪ Burks, a 14-year NBA veteran who was signed by the Heat in free agency this year, recorded nine points on 3-of-6 shooting on thees in the scrimmage.

▪ Johnson, who went undrafted out of Arizona this year and impressed for the Heat during summer league, finished the scrimmage with 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

▪ Smith was moving well during the scrimmage after undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery in his right knee in late December.

Smith totaled 14 points and four assists in the intrasquad game.

▪ With the event benefiting cancer care and research, Heat players and Spoelstra were each introduced ahead of the scrimmage alongside physicians, patients and survivors from the Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.

Spoelstra watched the scrimmage from a courtside seat alongside both of his sons and his daughter.

▪ Monday night’s “Red, White & Pink Game” not only provided the first public glimpse at the roster ahead of the preseason, the intrasquad scrimmage also offered the first public look at Kaseya Center’s major upgrades.

The arena upgrades include a new scoreboard, new lighting and audio systems and a new retractable seating system in the lower bowl. The upgrades were made during the Heat’s offseason this past summer.

▪ The scrimmage marked the beginning of a busy week for the Heat, which opens its five-game preseason schedule on Tuesday against the Hornets at Spectrum Center (7 p.m., Bally Sports Sun). All 21 players on the Heat’s preseason roster made the trip to Charlotte following Monday’s scrimmage.

The Heat then returns home for two preseason games on Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks and Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans.