Miami Heat's Kyle Lowry still recovering from hamstring injury, out for Game 1 vs. 76ers

MIAMI — Heat guard Kyle Lowry will not play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers as he continues to recover from a left hamstring injury, the team announced Sunday.

Lowry has not played since injuring the hamstring during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Atlanta Hawks on April 22.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said that while Lowry continues to make progress, it remains uncertain when he will be able to play in this series.

«I'm not even going [on] any kind of timetable,» Spoelstra said after Sunday's practice. «I know he's doing more. Gym has been great. Everybody's been able to do something and to prepare for the series.»

The Heat listed Jimmy Butler as questionable with right knee soreness, but Butler said Saturday that he would be ready for Game 1. Tyler Herro is questionable after dealing with a cold the past few days but said Saturday he would play. P.J. Tucker (calf), Caleb Martin (ankle), Max Strus (hamstring) and Markieff Morris (non-COVID illness) are all also questionable for Game 1.

No matter who is on the floor, Spoelstra and his team remain confident that they will be ready for the challenge that awaits them against a Sixers squad playing at least the start of the series without Joel Embiid, who is out because of a mild concussion and orbital bone fracture.

«Look, we've had so many different rotations and lineups during the course of the year that we've been forced to stay in the present moment,» Spoelstra said. «And we have great care and empathy for the guys that have missed time, but we just have to totally lock into who's available. Everybody else is ready to go. And we have a big challenge.

»This is a series that could potentially change,