GAME PREVIEW: The Miami Heat travel to Charlotte looking for a bounce back win against the Hornets

Game story:

The 12-10 Miami Heat are coming off a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at home on Friday night. After starting the season so well and with a 7 game-winning streak at one point, the Heat have struggled to be mediocre at best ever since.

They have gone through a couple of losing streaks, and every time they seem to pick up a win, they follow it up with a loss. Injuries is the main and only reason for this, as the Heat have put together 14 different starting lineups this season: A league high. Tonight, the Heat travel to Charlotte looking for another bounce-back win against the 7-13 Hornets.

The Hornets will be without the services of their best player LaMelo Ball, who is out with an ankle injury. Cody Martin, twin brother to Miami’s Caleb Martin, is also out due to injury for them.

The Heat still are without three starters in Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Haywood Highsmith.

Nikola Jovic and Cole Swider are also not with the team as they were sent to the Skyforce g-league team for some more in-game reps.

Even without Ball there to run the offense for Charlotte, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges and Gordon Hayward are all players capable of making an impact for this Hornets team.

The Miami Heat missed a lot of free throws, had 18 turnovers and got killed in the rebounding battle against the Cavs in their last game.

Look for all 3 of those departments to try and improve for tonight.

Jimmy Butler is also coming off his worst performance of the season, where he put up 16 points but on just 5/15 shooting.

Butler is usually a very efficient offensive player, so it will also be interesting to see how he responds after that performance. With star teammates Adebayo and Herro still sidelined, Butler has uncharacteristically had to carry the load so early in the season for Miami.

Expect coach Spoelstra to keep the same starting five tonight, with Martin and Orlando Robinson shaping up the front court. That starting unit has gone 1-1 together on the season.

Tonight’s game will tip off at 7:00 PM ET on Bally Sports Sun.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Miami Heat:

• Bam Adebayo (hip) — OUT
• Haywood Highsmith (back) — OUT
• Tyler Herro (ankle) — OUT
• Dru Smith (knee) — OUT
• Nikola Jovic (g league) — OUT
• Cole Swider (g league) — OUT

Charlotte Hornets:

• Nick Smith Jr. (foot) — Doubtful
• Mark Williams (back) — Doubtful
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) — OUT
• Cody Martin (knee) — OUT
• Frank Ntilikina (tibia) — OUT
• Leaky Black (g league) — OUT
• Armani Bailey (g league) — OUT

Projected Starting 5:

Miami Heat:

• Kyle Lowry, G
• Duncan Robinson, G
• Jimmy Butler, F
• Caleb Martin, F
• Orlando Robinson, C

Charlotte Hornets:

• Terry Rozier, G
• Miles Bridges, G
• Brandon Miller, F
• Gordon Hayward, F
• Mark Williams, C

Betting Lines (at the time of this publishing):

• Check the odds out at FanDuel!

Broadcast Info:

• Tipoff: 7:00 PM EST
• TV: Bally Sports Sun (Eric Reid, John Crotty)
• Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
• Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)

Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!

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