NBA Heat lose Adebayo indefinitely due to thumb surgery

NBA All-Star center Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat will be sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a torn right thumb ligament, the club announced Wednesday.

The 24-year-old American will undergo surgery next weekend, the Heat said, and a timetable on his return to the lineup will be provided after the operation.

Adebayo, who helped the United States capture Olympic gold earlier this year in Tokyo, suffered the injury on Monday in a 120-111 home loss to Denver.

Adebayo is averaging career highs of 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds so far this season for Miami, which shares third place in the Eastern Conference at 13-8.

In 2020, Adebayo averaged 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals a game in the NBA playoffs as the Heat reached the NBA Finals, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.