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[Saba Sports News] A cruel streak of misfortune continues for Miami Heat guard Dru Smith.
Smith exited Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets with a lower leg injury during the Heat’s 110-95 victory. While driving on Brooklyn’s Keon Johnson in the second quarter, Smith’s left leg buckled as he pushed off.
On Tuesday, the worst-case scenario was confirmed—Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Smith suffered a season-ending torn left Achilles.
The news is devastating for the 26-year-old on a two-way contract, who was making a strong case for a standard NBA deal this season. Smith had recently battled back from an ACL tear sustained just over a year ago in a bizarre incident involving a slippery piece of flooring.
After missing the remainder of the 2023-24 season, Smith returned to post an impressive stat line of 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals in just 19.1 minutes per game, including an elite 53.3% from three-point range.
Now, Smith faces another grueling recovery. It’s a heartbreaking setback for the former undrafted player, who has already shown incredible resilience in overcoming adversity.