GAME PREVIEW: Miami Heat will try to extend their win streak in Brooklyn

Game story:

The Miami Heat, on the second night of a back-to-back, travel to NY to play the visiting Brooklyn Nets. The Heat go into tonight with a 23-16 record, 5th in the East.

Miami is 1-2 against the Nets this season and will look to even up that record in their final matchup.

Brooklyn is sporting a 16-22 record and most recently coming off a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Not only is Miami coming off a dominating double digit win against the Charlotte Hornets last night, but it was also a truly special evening in South Florida as the team honored the Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade during the game.

Pat Riley blew up social media with the formal announcement of the D-Wade statue in the works for fall of 2024 right on Biscayne Blvd outside the Heat arena.

Bam Adebayo led the way last night with a 24/10/7 near triple double.

Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson also shot the ball very well. Herro posted 21/7/4 on 7/15 shooting as Robinson had 19/5/4 off the bench on 7/11 shooting.

The biggest news, current team related, of last night was Jaime Jaquez Jr. who started the game scorching hot offensively but exited the game with a groin injury. He is listed as out for tonight.

Kyle Lowry, who is dealing with a hand injury but started last night, was downgraded to doubtful.

However, Jimmy Butler was upgraded to questionable and is expected to return this evening. Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel reported last week that Butler was aiming for Monday to be his return from that toe injury he suffered in Utah.

Before that game, he was also out for some time with a calf injury.

It will be really nice to see the big three of Butler, Adebayo and Herro all together again on the floor.

With Butler back and Kevin Love/ Jaquez Jr. hurt in the front court, look for Nikola Jovic to continue getting reps at that starting PF position.

It will be interesting to see who Coach Spoelstra opts to pair with Herro in the backcourt with Kyle Lowry unavailable again.

Some options could be Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin or Haywood Highsmith.

Herro can play combo guard, so having other wing players as options is possible to start alongside Herro considering he can play either guard positions.

A common Brooklyn Nets Heat killer is young stud Mikal Bridges. It’s almost guaranteed Bridges will be all over that Miami scouting report. Bridges dropped a career high 44 points against the Heat in Brooklyn during a win last season.

That center position battle between Bam Adebayo and Nic Claxton will also be something to watch.

Tonight’s game will tip off at 7:30 PM ET on Bally Sports Florida.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Miami Heat:

• Jimmy Butler (toe) — Questionable
• Kyle Lowry (hand) — Doubtful
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin) — OUT
• Kevin Love (shoulder) — OUT
• Jamal Cain (g league) — OUT
• RJ Hampton (g league) — OUT
• Dru Smith (knee) — OUT

Brooklyn Nets:

• Ben Simmons (back) — OUT
• Day’Ron Sharpe (knee) — OUT
• Keon Johnson (g league) — OUT
• Dariq Whitehead (g league) — OUT
• Jalen Wilson (g league) — OUT
• Noah Clowney (g league) — OUT

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Miami Heat:

• Tyler Herro, G
• Caleb Martin, G
• Jimmy Butler, F
• Nikola Jovic, F
• Bam Adebayo, C

Brooklyn Nets:

• Spencer Dinwiddie, G
• Mikal Bridges, G
• Dorian Finney-Smith, F
• Cameron Johnson, F
• Nic Claxton, C

Betting Lines:

• Check the current 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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