MIAMI — After initially being listed as questionable, Heat guard Pelle Larsson wound up missing a second consecutive game on Saturday, sitting out against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to the sprained right ankle sustained in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Larsson then did not travel for Thursday night’s victory over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, listing on Friday as questionable for a return.

The other Heat players with uncertain statuses on the injury report were cleared two hours ahead of Saturday’s game: Bam Adebayo (back), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (thigh) and Nikola Jovic (elbow).

Remaining out was guard Tyler Herro, who missed a 12th game due to a toe contusion.

Away from the Heat on G League assignment were Keshad Johnson, Vlad Goldin and Jahmir Young, with Terry Rozier remaining separated from the team on NBA leave due to the FBI gambling probe.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said the approach all along was to give Larsson the night off.

“Pelle’s been working at it,” Spoelstra said pregame of a bid to return. “The plan wasn’t to have him play tonight. I don’t have an update of when he’ll be ready, but he’s getting a great workout in right now.”

Spoelstra said it’s hard not to miss a player like Larsson when the second-year guard is out.

“Ideally, we want everybody to embrace that, you know, that mentality of being a great winning role player,” Spoelstra said. “I know how this league is, sometimes you hear the term ‘role player,’ and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s not for me, that’s for the role players.’ But when you have everybody embracing that and doing those kind of things, your team can really reach a great level.”

Adebayo milestone

With Saturday’s appearance, Adebayo moved past Alonzo Mourning for third place on the Heat’s all-time regular-season games list (593), behind only Dwyane Wade (948) and Udonis Haslem (879).

“It still stuns me, all of these records that he continues to make for our franchise, because it felt like Zo played for us for 20 years,” Spoelstra said. “And I know Zo was out due to the (kidney) illness and everything. But those initial years felt like double or triple, you know, in time. But it shows you Bam’s steadiness, his consistency, and he’s a rock of consistency.

“Ultimately, that’s a talent in this league. And he’s found a way to embrace that and be available and continue to grow as a player.  And he’s doing amazing things.”

Up next

For the Heat, it’s right back at it on Sunday at Kaseya Center, with the back-to-back home set concluding against the New Orleans Pelicans.

It would be only the fifth career appearance against the Heat over the injury-plagued career of Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.

While the Pelicans are on a six-game losing streak, at a Western Conference-worst 8-28, Williamson enters on a run of three consecutive 30-point games, matching the longest such streak of his six-season career.

“He looks great,” Pelicans coach James Borrego said after Williamson scored a season-high 35 points on Friday night in a home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. “His spirit is right. His mind is right. He’s fresh, he’s aggressive. He’s really confident right now.

“It’s as well as I think he’s played in a while. I’ve seen this before, but in the recent history this is probably the best. Mentally and physically he looks really strong.”

Back at it

Saturday’s game opened an interrupted set of games between the Heat and Timberwolves, with the teams also meeting on Tuesday night at Target Center.

In the interim, the Heat host the Pelicans on Sunday, while the Timberwolves on Sunday play at the Washington Wizards.

As for the Pelicans’ injury report for Sunday against the Heat, New Orleans is listing as out Saddiq Bey (hip), Herbert Jones (ankle) and Dejounte Murray (Achilles), and as questionable Trey Murphy (back) and Derik Queen (quad).