The Miami Heat and Erik Spoelstra were without Bam Adebayo on Thursday as they went on a one-game road trip against the New Orleans Pelicans before the all-star break.

Adebayo has been in and out of the Heat's injury report for an apparent knee issue that's been lingering for a few games now and it has been confirmed prior to their game in NOLA that it was indeed tendinitis.

That said, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra isn't hitting the panic button just yet. According to the 50-year-old tactician, everything with regards to Adebayo's absence against the Pelicans was merely precautionary.

“We just want to be proactive about it, particularly before the break and make sure we take care of it right now,” Spoelstra said about Adebayo's current sitation (via Sun Sentinel). “He’ll continue to just be day to day.”

This is the first game the former Heat All-Star is missing this season due to an actual injury. The only games Adebayo has missed this season was a set of back-t0-back games against the Philadelphia 76ers earlier in January when he was ruled out due to the league's health and safety protocols.

The Heat ended up losing both those games.

Fortunately for Spo and the Heat, they were able to win Thursday's game against the Pelicans even without Adebayo. They escaped with a 103-93 win thanks to a fourth-quarter explosion from Jimmy Butler who, coincidentally, was also previously dealing with his own knee issue.

Both Adebayo and Butler will have the next week off and have full six days of rest before the Heat starts the second half of the season with a game against the Orlando Magic on March 11.

Hopefully, for the reigning Eastern Conference champs, this break gives their superstars enough rest to be able to come back strong and help the Heat cement their spot in this season's playoff picture.