Heat's Herro remains out for Game 4

The Miami Heat ruled out Tyler Herro for Friday's Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets.

Herro hasn't played since breaking his right hand in the Heat's playoff opener versus the Milwaukee Bucks.

The fourth-year guard was reportedly targeting a Game 3 return but hasn't been cleared by the team's medical staff.

"This is just part of the process," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "You have to go through stages. First part of it was just shooting, then movement, then contact versus coaches, and then the next level of contact in practice."

Veteran center Kevin Love has started the majority of the contests during Herro's absence.

Herro played a huge role in Miami's last Finals run three years ago, establishing a new NBA playoff rookie record for 3-point field goals. The Kentucky product earned the 2021-22 Sixth Man of the Year award.

The 23-year-old moved into a full-time starting role for the first time this season, averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 boards, and 4.2 assists over 67 appearances.

Denver holds a 2-1 series lead entering Friday's tilt in South Beach.