ORLANDO, Fla. — Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakučionis was ruled out of returning to play against the Orlando Magic on Sunday due to right hip soreness, the team announced.
Jakučionis logged 4 minutes, 27 seconds in the first quarter of the contest at the Kia Center before exiting with the injury for good. He recorded two points and one assist in his second preseason appearance, finishing with one turnover off the bench.
The 20th pick in the 2025 NBA draft missed the first two preseason games for the Heat due to a sprained left wrist. The team is still determining the severity of his latest setback.
“I’m not sure,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked if Jakučionis will be available to play again this preseason. “We’ll find out. He just goes so hard that things can happen. It is too early to tell right now.”
Jakučionis made his preseason debut with the Heat on Wednesday, recording eight points, 10 assists, two steals and one blocked shot in a loss against the San Antonio Spurs. He went 2-of-7 from the field and was a team-high plus-16 on the court.
The 19-year-old was highly touted out of Illinois thanks to his ability to score at all three levels, playmaking, vision and passing. He was voted as the biggest steal of the draft in the annual survey of general managers released last week.
Jakučionis is projected to have the opportunity for a larger role than initially expected, with Tyler Herro sidelined due to a foot injury. The team has been impressed by his competitiveness, intensity and motor since starting training camp last month.
“He plays with great energy,” Spoelstra said. “He doesn’t hold anything left in the tank. He just goes all out. You love that kind of spirit. We’ll just continue to try to develop him in our system.”