James Jones ranked second in three-point shooting in the NBA last season. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Miami Heat forward James Jones is expected to be out for three months due to a ruptured tendon in his right wrist.

The Miami native will undergo surgery on Saturday.

Jones signed with Miami as a free agent this summer, giving his hometown club a legitimate three-point threat after they stumbled to the NBA's worst record last season.

Jones has been dealing with a sprained wrist throughout training camp before rupturing the tendon on Wednesday.

"Just imagine somebody punching you in your stomach as hard as they can," Jones said. "I felt like I was turning the corner."

Jones averaged 44 per cent shooting from three-point range — second overall in the NBA — last season when he played for the Portland Trailblazers.

The Heat have been hit by injury problems recently, as centre Jamaal Magloire will miss six to eight weeks because of a broken left hand that will not require surgery.

With files from Associated Press