The Miami Heat will look to close its four-game homestand on the right foot against the Charlotte Hornets Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. EST inside Kaseya Center.
The Heat are 3-4 over their last seven games, though it squeaked out a 99-96 victory over the Orlando Magic Friday. It was the Heat’s second victory over Orlando this season, led by Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. in lieu of Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler’s absence.
The Hornets have been one of the worst teams in the East this season at 8-28. They are losers of 15 of their last 16 games, including a 36-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday in LaMelo Ball’s first game back from injury. He finished with 28 points, five assists and five steals in just 27 minutes, shooting 5-of-14 and 15-of-16 from the free-throw line.
Sunday will mark the fourth-and-final time the two teams play this season. Miami is 3-0 against Charlotte this season with an average point differential of 6.3 points. The Heat is 16-4 against teams below .500 this season.
Sunday will also be the night that Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame induction will be celebrated inside Kaseya Center! Wade, the greatest player in franchise history was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame over the summer alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Becky Hammon, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich.
Miami’s currently the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind both the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks–who are tied for the No. 5 seed–and one whole game behind the Indiana Pacers.
Can Miami finish their four-game road trip 3-1? It can’t lose on Wade ceremony night, right? Right?!? We’ll have to wait and see!
Greatest Miami Heat player of all time.🔥 pic.twitter.com/JV6SqaDrj7
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) January 14, 2024
We know purple shirt guy will be watching Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame celebration somewhere tonight.
You just had to be there.
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) January 14, 2024
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Jimmy Butler (foot) — DOUBTFUL
- Jamal Cain (G-League) — OUT
- R.J. Hampton (G-League) — OUT
- Tyler Herro (shoulder) — QUESTIONABLE
- Kevin Love (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
- Kyle Lowry (head) — QUESTIONABLE
- Dru Smith (knee) — OUT
- Cole Swider (G-League) — OUT
Charlotte Hornets:
- Amari Bailey (G-League) — OUT
- Gordon Hayward (calf) — OUT
- Cody Martin (groin) — QUESTIONABLE
- Brandon Miller (back) — DOUBTFUL
- Frank Ntilikina (tibia) — QUESTIONABLE
- P.J. Washington (foot) — DOUBTFUL
- Mark Williams (back) — OUT
Projected Starting 5:
Miami Heat:
- Kyle Lowry, G (if he plays)
- Tyler Herro, G (if he plays)
- Jaime Jaquez Jr., G/F
- Nikola Jovic, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
Charlotte Hornets:
- LaMelo Ball, G
- Terry Rozier, G
- Bryce McGowens, G
- Miles Bridges, F
- Nick Richards, C
Betting Lines (at the time of this publishing):
- Spread: Heat -8.5
- O/U: 224.5
- Moneyline: Hornets +290, Heat -360
Check out those lines and more at Fanduel Sportsbook!
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 6:00 p.m. EST
- TV: Bally Sports Sun
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
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6 game stretch vs “beatable” teams. Going 6-0 might catapult us to no.4. One game at a time. Go Heat!
I just posted this in another area here, here’s my two cents. I’ve read from various sources that the Hawks want to reset the team around 25-year-old Trae Young. I can see why, they are having a rough go this year, standing at 15-23. Last year there were plenty of rumors Atlanta was interested in moving on from John Collins and/or De’Andre Hunter. They moved Collins but find themselves paddling upstream this season. This year the Dejounte Murray rumors abound. Having said that, here’s a trade idea to push the needle forward.
Miami trades Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, and a pick (1st rd) for De’Andre Hunter and Dejounte Murray. This brings in a PG and a PF who have three-point shooting skills and play defense (Murray would be fine under Spoelstra’s tutelage). Atlanta gets a solid young rotation player, a pick, and a 29.7M+ expiring contract for an off-season shopping spree.
That would leave Miami with a solid young core for the future (age and remaining length of contract in parenthesis): Adebayo (26, 3yrs), Herro (23, 4yrs), Jaquez (22, 4yrs), Murray (27, 5yrs), Hunter (26, 4yrs). As well as still having Jovic(20, 3yrs) and Robinson (29, 2yrs) on the team. You strengthen the team with some young horses for the rest of Jimmy Butler’s run (3 yrs) and have a solid core for whoever you bring in later to fill Butler’s 45M cap space.
The money works in a trade. So what do you guys think?
Teams mostly are playing it safe dealing with Pat imo. That’s one factor that makes it hard for the godfather to really add components in his lineup and not give up too much. And Atlanta? They don’t want the team that has their number all the more get better, unless Pat gives in.
Maybe Pat and Charlotte GM will be talking trade possibilities. If not, potential lottery teams (Brooklyn, Toronto and Atlanta) are next up. I see a trade or two coming before the deadline.
GO HEAT!!!