Why Erik Spoelstra says Gabe Vincent is ‘invaluable’ to Heat. Also, the latest injury report

Since Gabe Vincent first signed with the Miami Heat three years ago in January 2020, he has transformed his game from a gunslinging two-guard with a score-first mentality into a three-and-D weapon that can be used as a point guard.

The result: A combo guard who can toggle between playing as a facilitator and scorer when needed.

That versatility been on display lately, as Vincent played as a scorer with starting guards Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro both out. Vincent, 26, set a new career-high with 28 points in Thursday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks and totaled 55 points while shooting 21 of 31 (67.7 percent) from the field and 10 of 19 (52.6 percent) from three-point range during the Heat’s two-game set against the Bucks leading into Monday afternoon’s matchup against the Hawks in Atlanta.

“He has the emotional stability to handle different roles that not every player in this league can accept,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Vincent. “He can play off the ball, he can play on the ball, he can play as a little bit more a scorer, he can be more of a facilitator if we have our full health. Those kind of guys are so invaluable in this league.”

Herro returned to play Monday after missing the previous three games because of left Achilles soreness, but Lowry missed his fourth straight game because of left knee discomfort. That means Vincent made his fourth start in a row in place of Lowry at point guard on Monday against the Hawks.

Before this run of starts, Vincent had started just once in his first 27 appearances this season.

“Gabe has always been like that. He just plays his role to a T,” Heat star Jimmy Butler said of Vincent’s recent scoring binge. “Whenever it’s needed for him to play like that, he can. But that’s a pro’s pro, knowing that you’re a very capable starter in this league. And then whenever the guys get back, you come off the bench and you take on a different role. He’s always done that. I’ve seen it day in, day out. I’m not surprised.”

But prior to scoring 28 points and 27 points in the Heat’s two wins over the Bucks last week, Vincent was averaging just 8.1 points per game on 38 percent shooting from the field and 29.1 percent shooting from three-point range in his first 28 appearances the season.

Vincent, who has missed 12 games this season because of a swollen left knee, had not scored more than 20 points in a game this season before the two-game set against Milwaukee.

“I feel pretty good,” Vincent said when asked if his two-game scoring surge was a sign that he was feeling healthy. “So I’m sure there’s some correlation there. We’ve just been trying to take it one day at a time. I’m trying to be aggressive and just trying to impact winning in any way I can.”

Vincent, who is playing for his next contract as an impending 2023 free agent, will likely move back to a bench role whenever Lowry returns. But his value as a versatile guard who can start and play as a scorer when needed but also provide much-needed depth as a three-and-D reserve when the roster is closer to full health has been on display lately.

“Gabe is a pro’s pro,” Butler said. “He deserves all the praise that he’s getting. A big contract coming for the guy.”

HIGH ON HIGHSMITH

Heat forward Haywood Highsmith is another player who has been relied on to step into a bigger role because of the team’s injury issues.

Highsmith has started in nine of his first 31 appearances this season. While playing through his own bumps and bruises, the 26-year-old Highsmith entered Monday averaging 4.6 points on 39.4 percent shooting from the field and 33.8 percent from three-point range and four rebounds this season.

Those numbers aren’t flashy, but Highsmith has found a role with the Heat as a versatile defender who plays as a screener, spacer and connector in an off-ball role on the offensive end. He’s also a quality rebounder at 6-5 with a 7-foot wingspan, averaging 7.1 rebounds per 36 minutes to rank fifth on the Heat in that category behind only Dewayne Dedmon (11.4 rebounds per 36 minutes), Orlando Robinson (10.7 rebounds per 36 minutes), Bam Adebayo (10.3 rebounds per 36 minutes) and Jamal Cain (7.6 rebounds per 36 minutes).

“He’s embraced this role,” Spoelstra said. “I think the role he played in summer league, I thought was really important. I think a lot of guys in that situation, they try to make a big splash and not play as a role player but to try to score 25 points a game. He played the exact role that we’re playing him in right now and that took some emotional stability. So you’re encouraged when guys get a lot better, but they also accept and embrace that kind of role.”

INJURY REPORT

The Heat ruled out Nikola Jovic (lower back stress reaction), Lowry (left knee discomfort), Duncan Robinson (finger surgery) and Omer Yurtseven (left ankle surgery) for Monday’s game against the Hawks.

Lowry will miss his fourth straight game because of his left knee issue, but he did travel with the team to Atlanta on Sunday.

The Heat also made forward Jamal Cain inactive for Monday’s game in order to save one of his two-way contract days.