LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 14: Derrick Jones Jr. #5 of the Miami Heat covers his face with a towel while he is taken off the court by medical personnel after colliding with Goga Bitadze #88 of the Indiana Pacers during the second half of a NBA basketball game at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 14, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement – Pool/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat forward had a scary injury during Friday’s contest against the Indiana Pacers
Friday was an important day for the Miami Heat, as they concluded their regular season against the Indiana Pacers. The winner would secure the fourth seed in the NBA Playoffs, while loser is given the No. 5 ranking entering their playoff matchup. Unfortunately, this exciting matchup took a backseat due to a terrifying injury.
During the third quarter of the game, Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. was chasing Pacers forward Doug McDermott, who had possession of the ball. As Jones tried guarding Lamb, he ran straight into a screen set by Indiana center Goga Bitadze, causing his neck to whiplash.
Basketball took a backseat to the horrific scene inside the bubble
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jones laid down on the court for a few minutes after getting hit in the head/shoulder area, but was moving his legs. Despite that, Jones didn’t make an effort to get up as he grabbed his neck, before he was ultimately carted off by medical staff.
ESPN’s Rachel Nichols reported that Jones underwent an MRI and CT scan, but didn’t experience any numbness in his body.
Jones played 16 minutes on Friday, where he scored three points on two shots, while grabbing two rebounds and dished out two assists. In 59 regular season games, Jones averaged 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 52.7% from the field. Jones is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
We’ll continue to keep you updated on Jones’ health status once the Heat provide further details.