Miami Heat Re-assign Jarvis Varnado to Sioux Falls Skyforcce

With eight games left in the regular season over a sixteen day stretch for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and playoff implications at stake, it's a great chance to get some serious playing time for Jarvis Varnado.  The Miami Heat on Thursday re-assigned the rookie center-forward and Varnado will be available Friday night when the team hosts the Canton Charge at 7 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena.

The assignment is the record 160th of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA Development League seasons, and is the second for Varnado.  He is one of a record 56 NBA players to have been assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

The man from Mississippi State returns to the Skyforce having been assigned to the team earlier this month, when he played in five games and averaged 9.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 28.6 minutes.  Varnado also played in 10 games for Sioux Falls prior to earning a GATORADE Call-Up from the team to Miami in January.  For the season, he is averaging 12.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 29.9 minutes for the Skyforce.

He has appeared in five games for Miami this season, recording two points, two blocks and one assist in 19 minutes.  The Miami Heat currently sustain a 24-game win streak after clawing back from a 27-point deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-95 on Wednesday night.  Prior to his stint with Miami, Varnado played in five games with the Boston Celtics, where he scored six points and grabbed three rebounds in 18 minutes.

The Sioux Falls Skyforce currently hold the seventh best record in the NBA Development League (22-20), which makes them eligible for the postseason.  However, right on their heels are the Erie BayHawks in 8th place (23-21) with the Maine Red Claws in 9th (23-22) and the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants lurking in 10th (21-21).  Favoring Sioux Falls in the playoff chase despite winning only two of their last ten games is the tie-breaker advantage that the Skyforce hold over both Erie and Maine.  Should Sioux Falls be tied with either of those teams at the end of the regular season, their head-to-head record will be considered for playoff eligibility.