Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Miami Heat rookie guard Shabazz Napier will miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Napier made 10 starts and played in 51 games as a rookie, averaging 5.1 points and 2.5 assists in just under 20 minutes per game.
The former UConn standout, who led the Huskies to the national title in 2014, was acquired from Charlotte in a draft-night trade. His injury opens the door for fellow rookie Tyler Johnson to play meaningful minutes off the bench as the Heat make their final playoff push.
They currently hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, though the ninth-seeded Celtics are just one game behind.
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