GAME PREVIEW: Miami Heat open West Coast trip with a matchup against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors

Game story:

The Miami Heat go into tonight’s game looking to begin their West Coast trip with a win over the Golden State Warriors. Miami has 5 games as part of this trip, and start against Stephen Curry and the 11st seed Warriors.

Miami is coming off an impressive Christmas Day win, lead by rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the absence of Jimmy Butler.

Butler is listed as questionable tonight, along with many other key rotation guys that have wound up on the loaded injury report.

Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson are also listed as questionable.

Haywood Highsmith, who sat out the last game with an illness is available.

Caleb Martin and Josh Richardson are doubtful.

It is always next man up, and with the way Jaquez Jr. has been hooping, he should absolutely be expected to keep getting continued opportunity.

Tyler Herro will be looking to bounce back efficiency wise, who shot just 8/25 from the field on Monday night.

In that game, Jaquez Jr. headlined with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 70% shooting. However, Bam Adebayo continued his case for that All-NBA and DPOTY leap with a 26 point, 15 rebound and 5 block double double performance. Miami won 119-113 against the Joel Embiid-less 76ers.

They shot 48% from the field, 38% from three and overwhelmingly won the rebounding battle 56-36.

The Heat have won 7 of their last 10 games, and are 15/30 in the league for offensive rating along with 13/30 for defensive rating.

In their last 5 games, the team defense has held opponents to 46% from the field and 35.6% from deep.

Even with guys in and out of the lineups all year long, Coach Spoelstra like always has done a tremendous job at keeping this team competitive every single night and near the top of the standings.

Miami leads the league in the most different starting lineups.

Tonight’s scouting report has to have all eyes on Stephen Curry, who is still lighting it up night in and night out at the age of 35.

Caleb Martin would’ve been the perfect lengthy wing defender to put on Curry, but with him being sidelined the Heat may be throwing multiple different guys at him.

The game will be nationally televised on NBA TV at 10:00 PM ET.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Miami Heat:

• Jimmy Butler (calf) — Questionable
• Kyle Lowry (soreness) — Questionable
• Duncan Robinson (ankle) — Questionable
• Caleb Martin (ankle) — Doubtful
• Josh Richardson (back) — Doubtful
• Dru Smith (knee) — OUT

Golden State Warriors:

• Draymond Green (league suspension) — OUT
• Gary Payton II (calf) — OUT

Projected Starting 5:

Miami Heat:

• Kyle Lowry, G
• Tyler Herro, G
• Jimmy Butler, F
• Jaime Jaquez Jr, F
• Bam Adebayo, C

Golden State Warriors:

• Stephen Curry, G
• Klay Thompson, G
• Brandin Podziemski, G/F
• Jonathan Kuminga, F
• Kevon Looney, C

Betting Lines (at the time of this publishing):

• Check the odds out at FanDuel!

Broadcast Info:

• Tipoff: 10:00 PM EST
• TV: NBA 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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