Look, being a Miami Heat fan right now feels a bit like riding a roller coaster that only goes in circles. You think you're getting somewhere, then—bam—another injury report drops. Honestly, it's exhausting. But if you’ve been watching tyler herro last 5 games, you’ve seen something kinda weird. Despite the Heat struggling to find a rhythm, Herro has been weirdly efficient. Like, "first-time All-Star" efficient.
He's currently navigating a bizarre season. He’s only played 11 games total as of mid-January 2026. After missing a massive chunk of time with a right big toe contusion, he finally stepped back onto the hardwood on January 6th. Since then? He’s been a bucket. But the team record hasn't exactly reflected that.
Breaking Down the Box Scores
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the numbers because they tell a story of a guy who is trying to carry a heavy load with a body that’s basically held together by tape and stubbornness.
- January 15 vs. Boston Celtics (L, 114-119): This was probably his most impressive outing of the stretch. He dropped 22 points on a super clean 9-of-15 shooting. He was also 4-of-7 from deep. He looked fast. He looked decisive. But the Heat still fell short against the C's, and Tyler ended up with a -11 plus-minus.
- January 13 vs. Phoenix Suns (W, 127-121): The lone win in this recent stretch. Herro logged a heavy 39 minutes. He put up 23 points, though he struggled from three (2-for-8). He managed to get to the line six times, which is something Coach Spo has been begging him to do for years.
- January 11 @ Oklahoma City Thunder (L, 112-124): A tough road game. He finished with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting. The efficiency was there, but the playmaking was... quiet. Just 3 assists.
- January 10 @ Indiana Pacers (L, 99-123): A blowout. Tyler had 21 points and 7 rebounds. He was the only real spark on a night where the rest of the roster looked like they were running in sand.
- January 6 @ Minnesota Timberwolves (L, 94-122): His first game back. 17 points, 9 rebounds. You could see the rust in the first half, but he finished 7-of-15 from the floor. Not bad for a guy who hadn't played in weeks.
The Injury Bug Won't Let Go
If you're looking for tyler herro last 5 games stats to see if he's back to 100%, I’ve got some bad news. He’s not. In fact, as of yesterday, January 17th, he was ruled out for the rematch against the Thunder.
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It’s not just the toe anymore. Now there’s a rib contusion in the mix.
Erik Spoelstra says it’s not "long-term," but we’ve heard that one before. It’s frustrating because when Herro is on the floor with Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell (who the Heat picked up to fill the Jimmy Butler-sized hole), they actually look decent. That trio has a +9.2 net rating. The problem is they’ve only shared the floor for eight games. Total.
Why the Shooting Percentage Matters
Normally, Tyler is a "volume" guy. You expect him to take 20 shots to get 20 points. But this season, he’s shooting 49.7% from the field. That’s a career high by a wide margin. He’s stopped taking those "hero ball" contested mid-rangers and started attacking the rim or hunting open threes.
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He's averaging 20.4 points over this five-game span.
But here is the catch: his assists are down. He’s only averaging about 2.7 assists per game this season. In the new offense, with more ball screens being run for Powell and Wiggins, Herro is being asked to be a finisher rather than a creator. It’s a shift. Some people think it limits him. Others think it’s the only way he stays efficient.
What’s Actually Going on in Miami?
There’s a lot of noise around the trade deadline. Some analysts at Hot Hot Hoops are already calling this a "gap year" for Miami. They're sitting at 22-20, fighting for a play-in spot.
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Is Tyler a superstar? Probably not. But he’s a 26-year-old All-Star (he made it in 2025, remember?) who can score at all three levels. The problem isn't his talent; it’s his availability. If you can’t trust a guy to play more than 15 games in a row without a "toe contusion" or a "rib issue," it’s hard to build a championship core around him.
Takeaways and What to Watch
If you're tracking Herro for fantasy or just because you’re a die-hard Heat fan, keep an eye on his "active" status for the Golden State game on January 19th. That’s the next chance he has to suit up.
Key things to notice in his next few appearances:
- Free Throw Attempts: If he's under 3 attempts, he's settling for jumpers.
- First Quarter Aggression: In the Celtics game, he had 15 points in the first half. When he starts hot, the Heat actually have a chance.
- The Toe: Watch how he moves off-ball. If he’s hesitating on cuts, that toe is still barking.
Basically, Tyler is doing his job. He’s scoring efficiently. But until the Heat can get their full starting five on the court for more than a week at a time, these 20-point performances from Herro are just going to be footnotes in a mediocre season.
If you are looking to bet on Heat player props or update your fantasy lineup, prioritize Herro's points over his assists. The playmaking just isn't there in this current system. Focus on his field goal percentage—if he stays near 50%, he’s a top-tier shooting guard. If that drops, the Heat are in real trouble. Keep an eye on the injury reports roughly two hours before tip-off; that's when the Heat have been dropping the hammer on his status lately.