Nikola Jovic is believed to have “dodged a bullet” after suffering a terrifying injury

MONKEYS – Monday night started off unusual Miami Heat as Tyler Hero injured his toe in the pregame despite being announced as the starter, making him a late scratch for Monday night’s 106-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors. To add to that, Heat’s young forward, Nikola Jovic, has suffered a worrying hand injury it was at first sight a terrible sight for the whole team.

With Jovic going through a slump, Monday could have been his chance to get back on track as he entered the game with 3:50 left in the first quarter. However, he would only play for 12 seconds, like when he was trying to dunk the ballhe landed hard out of boundsright on his arm and more precisely on his elbow.

The scene after Nikola Jovic landed hard after a dunk attempt. He walks away with his right hand outstretched.

Huge standing ovation for him when he comes out. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/DgvGPkjPGp

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 16, 2025

His arm would remain outstretched while he was in pain, leading to the team and coaching staff surrounding him until he left the field with a cast who held his right hand outstretched. Yet through it all, he had a smile on his face, a sight to behold as a head coach Erik Spoelstra “I couldn’t believe it,” as he also gave more insight into the gruesome injury, saying Jovic “dodged a bullet”.

“Crazy Serbian, I couldn’t believe he was smiling, he was smiling when we all came up to him,” Spoelstra said. “He probably saw the look on all of our faces. It was a hard fall, looks like we dodged a bullet on that one, he fell really hard and dislocated his elbow, so it was bleeding, but the video came back negative, which was a good thing, but it’s going to be painful for a while.”

“We’re going to get an MRI tomorrow, just to make sure it wasn’t anything else … but the bones are fine,” Spoelstra continued.

When asked by Erik Spoelstra about Nikola Jovic’s hard fall, he explained that they believe they “dodged a bullet” because the X-rays were negative.

“Crazy Serb, I couldn’t believe he was laughing, he was laughing… He probably saw the look on all our faces… extended his elbow.” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/VssHPAMIVh

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 16, 2025

Heat Nikola Jović is a “warrior”, trans Bam Adebayo

The Heat hoped that Jović would come out of the crisis who has seen playing time over the past few weeks, although now an elbow injury is a major setback, although there is no word on a potential timetable. But, Spoelstra said, Jovic’s X-rays came back negative, as he was scheduled to receive the scan on Tuesday.

Miami captain Bam Adebayo was happy to see Jovic “in a great mood”, although he admitted there was concern at first.

“I mean, I was impressed that he actually tried to dunk it, usually Niko tries to put it down, but when you see guys start waving to the coaches to come get him, that’s when you start to worry that he’s in really bad shape,” Adebayo said after posting 20 points and 10 rebounds. “But you know, Niko is a warrior. You know, I always say he had that heavy Serbian blood in him. For him to smile, that’s obviously a great sign. He’s in a great mood and I wish we could have gotten that win for him.”

Asked Bam Adebayo about the terrible situation with Nikola Jovic:

“When you see guys start waving their tracksuits to come get him, then you worry… but Niko is a warrior, I always say he has that vein of Serbian blood in him…” #HeatNation pic.tvitter.com/EBJkCLIbKSA

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 16, 2025

As Adebayo mentioned, the loss to Toronto was memorable, as the team scored less than 100 points for the first time this season, while their new offense was tested like never before, even though they emphasize a fast tempo and high-scoring offense.

Warmth Norman Powell describes the place where Nikola Jović was wounded

Although it is Warm up the hope that you will hear encouraging news of Jovic’s front in the near future, there’s no denying he wants to come back stronger than ever, especially in the midst of a disappointing season. Miami’s top scorer Norman Powell initially didn’t know what Jovic had hurt until he saw it “pool of blood” coming from his elbow, as he also mentioned how “positive” the 22-year-old is.

“I didn’t know what he hurt at first because it looked like his tailbone when he went down, and then you go over there, see a pool of blood coming out of his hand, you know, then you start thinking he broke his arm, but luckily he didn’t,” Powell said after scoring 20 points. “But I think he was in a good mood about it, which is always good.”

“He’s always really positive about being around and stuff like that, no matter what he’s going through,” Powell continued. “So hopefully he can come back quickly, and get good news from the doctor, and come back in a few weeks to help us.”

Asked by Norman Powell about how he watched Nikola Jovic fall and what he saw, he said he didn’t know what it was at first until he saw “a pool of blood coming out of his hand”.

He noted how he was in a “good mood” and how he was “always really positive.” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/6NkhsC8a7S

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 16, 2025

It remains to be seen when Jovic will return, but Miami is looking to end its current five-game skid, which includes losing six of its last seven contests. The Heat now embark on a three-game road trip starting Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets, but first the team has a crucial practice on Wednesday.