Haywood Highsmith Leaves Victim In Critical Condition After Brutal Crash Causes Partial Leg Amputation

The Miami Heat have issued a statement on the accident, listing Highmsith out of the Heat's 116-104 win over the Spurs earlier tonight.

“We have been made aware that Highsmith was involved in a car accident heading home from last night’s game. Highsmith is listed as out for tonight’s contest against the San Antonio Spurs due to Personal Reasons. Our hearts go out to those who were injured.”

Highsmith was averaging 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds on 20.7 minutes per game with 37 appearances this season for the Heat. An investigation could be likely to follow which would determine if Highsmith was at fault for the incident. 

Fadeaway World would like to wish a speedy recovery to everyone who has been hurt, mentally or physically, from this incident. 

The Miami Heat Getting Their Season Back On Track

This incident will be a blow to the Heat, who are coming off two wins on back-to-back against the Magic and the Spurs. We'll have to wait and see if Highsmith will be punished for his actions, but he could be facing a spell of time away from the franchise as investigations continue. They have a record of 28-24, sitting as the 7th seed in the East.

The Heat made the winter acquisition of Terry Rozier, ending a year-long search for another guard by getting rid of Kyle Lowry. Rozier has had a slow start in Miami, averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists since being traded. But the team is more formidable on paper after the deal if the team can remain healthy. They have faced spells with Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and Jimmy Butler missing time, which has caused them to be an underachieving regular-season team.

An absence from Highsmith will weaken a threadbare frontline in Miami already, but it would likely lead to more minutes for Nikola Jovic, who's averaging 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds this season. 

Given the team's playoff pedigree, nobody will doubt what the Heat could achieve if they made the postseason. But it's a worrying trend that this team is failing to make an impact in the regular season for the second year in a row. They aren't a title team on paper and will rely on another mega postseason run to end with a successful season, which is disappointing to see from a team with so much promise.