Getty
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat react on the court.
The Miami Heat have been one of the most surprising offensive teams in the league. Fast pace. High scoring. Balanced production across the roster. And they have done all of it without one of their best weapons on the floor.
That wait might be ending soon.
According to multiple reports, Tyler Herro is targeting a return as early as the Heat’s next matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. After missing the start of the season because of offseason ankle surgery, the former All Star appears close to suiting up again.
The league’s number one offense might be getting even stronger.
Miami’s Offense Has Surprised Everyone
The Heat entered the season expecting to compete, but nobody projected this kind of firepower. Miami currently leads the NBA in points per game and is playing at the fastest pace in the league. Eight different players are averaging double figures. There is movement, spacing and unselfishness in every possession.
They have also been without Herro. He averaged 23.9 points last season and often carried Miami’s scoring load through tough stretches. His return adds shot creation, spacing and another high-level threat late in games.
The timing could not be better.
The Powell Factor Makes Herro’s Return Even More Interesting
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesNorman Powell, Miami Heat
Miami expected Norman Powell to help. They did not expect him to look like this.
Powell has opened the season averaging 25.4 points per game while leading an offense that produces clean looks from everywhere on the floor. He has adapted perfectly to Erik Spoelstra’s system, picking his spots, attacking in transition and giving Miami a perimeter scorer who can punish mismatches.
Powell is excited about the pairing too.
“I think we are going to complement each other with our play style. We are both selfless players. We have already been talking about how we are going to be finding each other in transition and playing off one another,” Powell said.
Herro has never played in a Miami offense this balanced. Last season he faced traps, face guarding and tough coverages without consistent help. That will not be the case now. Miami creates advantages at every position and makes defenses pick their poison.
Herro steps into the cleanest offensive situation of his career.
Who Loses Minutes When Herro Returns?
That is the real question. The Miami Heat are 11–6 without Herro and have multiple quality wins, including two victories over the New York Knicks and a strong showing against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Someone’s minutes will be trimmed. Maybe several players.
Herro and Powell are expected to start together, but Spoelstra can stagger them to keep scoring on the floor at all times. Miami has leaned into versatility and pace, and adding another skilled shooter only enhances that formula.
The goal is simple. Miami wants to overwhelm defenses every quarter.
How the Heat’s Schedule Sets Up a Run
Miami’s surge has completely shifted expectations. Before the season, most Las Vegas sportsbooks projected the Heat to finish in the 37–39 win range. Now, Basketball Reference projects them for 53 wins, putting them just ahead of the Detroit Pistons, even though Detroit currently leads the conference behind rising star Cade Cunningham.
That projection isn’t random — it reflects Miami’s brutal early-season schedule. The Heat have faced almost nothing but 2024–25 playoff teams. They haven’t even played several of the league’s lighter opponents yet, including the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards — all matchups still on the horizon.
According to Basketball Reference’s projections, Miami now has one of the league’s easiest paths the rest of the way. And they navigated their toughest stretch without Tyler Herro.
Whether his return comes against the Dallas Mavericks or later in the week, the timing could not be better. The NBA’s best offense is about to add another high-level scorer, more spacing and even more lineup options.
It’s the kind of boost that can change a season.
Final Word on Herro’s Imminent Return
Tyler Herro has been patient. Miami has been resilient. Now both sides feel like they are close to getting the full picture again.
Herro returns to a team that runs, shares the ball and punishes rotations. He returns to a backcourt partner who is playing the best basketball of his career. He returns to a structure that allows him to attack without carrying every possession.
And the Miami Heat get back a player who changes the way defenses prepare.
The league’s top offense is about to add another elite scorer. The timing could not be better.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
More Heavy on Heat
Loading more stories
