Game story:
The 14-10 Miami Heat will look to extend their small current two-game win streak at home against the struggling Chicago Bulls. It is the second night of a back-to-back for the Heat, and the first night of back-to-back matchups against the Bulls after playing two straight against the Hornets this week.
Miami also played Chicago twice in a row on the road a few weeks back and split the matchups 1-1. Now it is the Bulls’ turn to get the 2 game stand on the road.
The Miami Heat injury report has not yet been submitted, but Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Haywood Highsmith will not be available.
Josh Richardson, who was a late scratch for last night’s game due to a headache, should be available tonight. Look for the Hot Hot Hoops social media accounts to get an update on the official injury report once released in a little bit.
For Chicago, they are without the services of Zach Lavine and possibly Alex Caruso as well who is listed as questionable.
The key to getting both of these games against the Bulls inside the Kaseya Center in the next coming nights is stopping star player DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan cooked the Heat in the one win against them a few weeks ago. He was able to get to his spots and knock down some pretty difficult buckets, even in the clutch too.
DeRozan is a proven veteran and mid-range master who excels in the 4th quarter; sounds pretty similar to Miami’s own Jimmy Butler.
The Jimmy/DeRozan matchup in South Beach should be a good one tonight and on Saturday (assuming Butler is available).
Butler is coming off a 15 PT, 10 AST double double last night, the 10 assists is a season-high for him.
There were many other notable performances in the Hornets win last evening. 6 players scored in double figures, as the team proved once again there is lots of depth to this roster.
Duncan Robinson lead the Heat in scoring for the second game in a row, doing it efficiently once again with 7/12 shooting overall, 6/9 3P and a +15 on the floor. Butler had a team high +19.
Kyle Lowry also had a vintage performance and went perfect from the field with 17 PTS, 5/5 shooting and 4/4 3P.
Great bench production from Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jamal Cain with 17 & 14 PTS. Jaquez Jr. also had 8 ASTS & 6 RBS along with 11 PTS & 9 boards in 16 minutes from Thomas Bryant.
The Heat will look to extend their streak to three in a row against inside the Kaseya Center, with tip-off set for 7:30 PM ET on Bally Sports Sun.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- NOT YET SUBMITTED
Chicago Bulls:
- Alex Caruso (ankle) — Questionable
- Lonzo Ball (knee) — OUT
- Zach Lavine (foot) — OUT
- Justin Lewis (g league) — OUT
- Adama Sanogo (g league) — OUT
- Onuralp Bitim (g league) — OUT
Projected Starting 5:
Miami Heat:
- Kyle Lowry, G
- Duncan Robinson, G
- Jimmy Butler, F
- Caleb Martin, F
- Orlando Robinson, C
Chicago Bulls:
- Alex Caruso, G
- Coby White, G
- DeMar DeRozan, F
- Patrick Williams, F
- Nikola Vucevic, C
Betting Lines (at the time of this publishing):
- Check the odds out at FanDuel!
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 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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Do to Bulls what we did to Hornets. Heat for 15-10
Seeing Jimmy in this photo reminds me, he’s been playing like ass recently. I mean I guess he hasn’t been terrible, but there have only been one or two games when he looked like the best player on the team. I understand that he’s pacing himself for the playoffs and I’m not necessarily worried. But especially with Bam and Herro out, Jimmy playing like an all-star is the different between the Heat being a top-5 team in the East (with Boston and Milwaukie and Philly) or a 5-10 team in the East (with Cleveland and Indiana and the Knicks).
he knows how good jjj is .this will make jim fresher playoff time.btw hes doing just fine for reg season games
that sounds great until the Heat end up back in the play-in tourney
jimmys not lebron he cant be great every night doesnt have the stamina.has to pick and choose when to be great,
GOOD NEWS!
Hang in there guys & gals. Bam and Herro are expected back before the Heat head west for a five-game western swing after Christmas vs Golden State, Utah, Clippers, Lakers, Phoenix.
GO HEAT!!!
brutal sched there.easiest game might be gsw
After that stretch might be Riley’s cue to do his thing. Or not. We’ll soon find out folks. Go Heat!