MIAMI — If it’s not one ankle, it’s another for Pelle Larsson.

So there was the second-year Heat guard again working on the side at practice Wednesday at Kaseya Center, ruled out for Thursday night’s road game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

And likely beyond.

This time it’s a sprained right ankle, after missing five games in mid-December with a sprained left ankle.

“I mean, I just keep stepping on people’s foot, and, yeah, just getting a little bit unlucky at the moment,” said Larsson, who was lost for the night at the start of the fourth quarter of Monday night’s victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets.

At the moment of his injury, Larsson was just regaining his stride from his previous ankle issue, having scored 21 and 16 points in the two previous games before going out.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s frustrating of course in the moment,” he said. “But fortunately this is one that wasn’t as bad. So I mean, I’m already doing a lot more than I was doing with the other one.”

In this case, Larsson could wind up missing more games but less time. The previous ankle sprain came amid the NBA Cup scheduling that had the Heat off for extended stretches, missing those five games over an 11-day span. This time, the Heat will play five games over the next eight days.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the fact that Larsson was on the practice court Wednesday was encouraging.

“It’s part of the NBA, you know,” Spoelstra said of Larsson having to deal with back-to-back injuries. “He’s able to do some work here right now.

“We’re  encouraged that it didn’t look like the last one.”

So is Larsson.

“Comparing how it was when it happened now and then, it’s much better. So I’m expecting less time out,” Larsson said, with no MRI required this time.

“I mean, Doc kind of ruled that out pretty quick when we were already at the game.  So, and I kind of felt that, too, just the way, the pain level and stuff.”

On the irony of one step forward literally one back with the other ankle, Larsson smiled.

“You know, I don’t know, maybe it’s a family thing because my brother sprained both his ankles the same day this summer when he was playing basketball,” the upbeat Swede said.

Beyond Larsson, also not practicing Wednesday were Tyler Herro and Simone Fontecchio.

Like Larsson, Herro did not travel to Detroit, which will be his 11th game missed with a contusion of his right big toe.

Fontecchio did travel after sitting out Wednesday’s practice due to an inflamed left ankle.

The Jakucionis issue

Monday’s victory marked the first time in seven games that rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis did not see rotation time, utilized only for the final three minutes of the blowout victory over the Nuggets that extended the Heat’s winning streak to three.

Spoelstra had previously stressed the importance of last June’s No. 20 pick out of Illinois seeing consistent court time, be it with the Heat or in the G League.

“All of it’s important,” Spoelstra said of weighing time with the Heat versus robust playing time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. “The eight games that he had in Sioux Falls was important. The time with us is important. The player development is important.

“In a perfect world, yeah, he’s playing. But also being around and being available, you know, also helps with the mental part of it.”

With Larsson out, the playing time could be back Thursday.

Spoelstra said Jakucionis is handling the shuffling well for a 19-year-old.

“I still marvel at the fact that he’s a teenager and how he carries himself with the maturity,” Spoelstra said, “And his approach, you know, is very unique.”