Heat point guard Gabe Vincent is downgraded to OUT for Game 5 against the Celtics

The Miami Heat will be without starting point guard Gabe Vincent in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston on Thursday night.

Vincent got hurt late in Miami’s Game 4 loss when he landed awkwardly on his left ankle while trying to save a loose ball near the Heat bench. He got re-taped and returned to that game, but the effects of the ankle sprain led to the Heat downgrading Vincent to out for Game 5.

Miami enters Thursday with a 3-1 series lead.

The move could send Kyle Lowry into the starting lineup for Miami; he has been coming off the bench while Vincent starts.

Vincent started each of Miami’s first 15 playoff games. He’s averaged 13.1 points in the postseason, third-best on the Heat behind Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

The Miami Heat will be without starting point guard Gabe Vincent in Game 5 on Thursday

Lowry (right) has been coming off the bench in favor of Vincent (left) so far this series

Miami has played most of the playoffs without two other guards – Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo. Herro has been cleared to resume some basketball activities after recovering from a broken hand but is still at least several days away from playing. Oladipo will miss the rest of the season with a torn patellar tendon.

The undrafted Vincent, 26, is coming off his best NBA season.

He averaged career highs in minutes (25.9 a game) and points (9.4 a game), and has been lethal against the Celtics, scoring 29 points in the Game 3 win.

Lowry, now 37, has struggled this series, making just 35.5 percent of his field-goal attempts and 25.3 minutes a game off the bench.