Game story:
After upsetting the Boston Celtics on their home floor in game 2, the Miami Heat failed to protect their home court. Miami dropped both games 3 and 4, falling into a 3-1 series hole. They have lost six straight postseason home games.
It’s not looking good for this Heat team, who are still without the services of their two best scorers in Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. Jaime Jaquez Jr also sustained a hip injury in game 4 and did not travel with the team to Boston heading into tonight. Look for Delon Wright to get the starting nod in the backcourt with Tyler Herro, and Caleb Martin sliding to the small forward position in Jaquez’s absence.
In the last game, the Heat trailed by as many as 28 points. They made a fourth-quarter run, but ultimately fell short, losing 102-88.
Bam Adebayo did all he could to fuel Miami offensively with a 25/17 double-double on 50% shooting. Herro finished with 19/4/4 but his performance was mirrored by 5 turnovers. Martin struggled to begin the game, but finished with 18 points. Virtually everybody else was nonexistent on that end of the floor.
The Celtics shot 38% from 3-point range compared to the Heat’s 28%. The shooting efficiency and volume that took place in that game 2 win has not carried over. Miami drilled a franchise-record 23 threes and then simply could not sustain it moving forward.
Kristaps Porzingis went down early in game 4 in what appeared to be a non-contact leg injury. He is listed as out tonight for Boston, with Al Horford expected to get the starting nod in his place.
With Miami being so undermanned in star power, they have lacked the talent to keep up with the Celtics, especially on offense. Will the Heat force a game 6 back in South Beach or will their injury plagued 2023-2024 season come to an end?
Tonight’s game will tip-off at 7:30 PM EST on TNT.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Jaime Jaquez Jr (hip) — OUT
- Jimmy Butler (MCL) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (neck) — OUT
- Josh Richardson (surgery) — OUT
Boston Celtics:
- Kristaps Porzingis (soleus) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Delon Wright, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Caleb Martin, F
- Nikola Jovic, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
Boston Celtics:
- Jrue Holiday, G
- Derrick White, G
- Jaylen Brown, F
- Jayson Tatum, F
- Al Horford, C
Betting Lines:
- Check the current odds out at FanDuel!
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 PM EST
- TV: TNT
- 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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Looks like we’re saying our good-byes 😁
Sorry for sounding like a broken record but one more game. We ain’t finish unti it is. Go Heat!
THANK YOU TO PAT RILEY, ERIC SPOELSTRA AND THE MIAMI HEAT
I’m very proud of our guys. When you think about it, the team has been playing without two key starters (Butler and Rozier) and one rotation player (JRich). Now, a fourth player, Jaime Jaquez is out for Game 5. Like Sacramento and Golden State, we should probably have never made it out of the play-in round.
Considering the patchwork team Riley has been able to put together over the past five years, his results have been remarkable. He’s made a few good draft picks and trades and a few bad ones. The team has been especially good at finding and developing undrafted players. Overall, we can’t argue with the results. Three Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals in 5 seasons ain’t bad. Compare that to what many other teams have experienced, such as “The Process” in Philadelphia and several other endless rebuilding processes around the NBA (Detroit, Charlotte, Washington, etc).
THE FUTURE
This five year run with Jimmy has been good. But, as the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end.” Jimmy’s time in Miami has passed. His window has closed. I don’t know what the market is for an aging NBA star, but I’m sure there are teams who would be willing to trade talented younger players and draft picks for a chance to have Jimmy get them over the hump during the next couple of years. Teams like Houston, OKC, Utah, San Antonio and others. The same goes with Herro. Furthermore, Duncan’s contract is only partially guaranteed in 2025-2026. He may be someone a team in need of 3-point shooting off the bench may be willing to consider gambling on.
That leaves Miami with a core of Bam, Rozier, Jovic and Jaquez. There are several role players who are also worth keeping, if the price is right. JRich, KLove, DWright, ORob and the G Leaguers. Depending on who/what Pat can get for Butler, Herro and Duncan, Miami may be able to put a pretty competitive team on the court in the short term and a very competitive team on the court in the long term.
FREE AGENTS & TRADES
There are a ton of free agents available this offseason, several of whom might love to play in Miami (LeBron, Siakam, Anunoby, DeRozan, Harris, Bridges, Claxton, etc.). In addition, there are other players who, like Butler, will be entering their last season before option years or restricted free agency. If they don’t plan to stay where they are after 2024-2025, it may be a good time to pursue a trade this summer (e.g., Donovan Mitchell, Brandon Ingram, Jamal Murray, Kris Middleton, Bobby Portis, etc.).
DRAFT PICK(S)
Miami has the #15 and #43 draft picks in 2024. They can afford to take a chance on both or trading up or down if opportunities arise. The team may also be able to obtain additional picks if any pre-draft trades are made. There are several players in the draft who fit the Miami profile.
BOTTOM LINE
The glass is half-full. I, for one, am looking forward to the future. Meanwhile, I look forward to the players giving their all TONIGHT and going out on their shields. It’s been a long roller-coaster ride this season. It’s time for it to come to an end and for our guys to get a well-deserved rest.
GO HEAT!!!
I think most of us is an agreement with you. If you could trade for any good player or 2 with picks and get another really good player in free agency, who would be your likely options ?
Hard to say who might be available. Mitchell, Siakam, Antonoby, James, Harris, Valanciunas, Hartenstein, Bridges. Also could trade for players and picks.
If Miami has Rozier at PG and Bam at PF, I can see Mitchell at SG, DeRozan at SF and Hartenstein at C.
There are countless other combinations, including trading for younger talented players plus draft picks, such as Butler to Houston for Brooks, Smith, Whitmore and #8 pick.
If we could somehow get that starting lineup with added picks and young role players , I would be ecstatic. We would be able to compete in the present and in the future.
bron bronny kd
Bron said it ain’t his priority to play with bronny anymore, and kd will probably run it back with suns to wash that embarrassment of there faces.
Well said and couldn’t agree.
You forgot to mention, that Dunc is a shell of himself.
I should have added Duncan to the injured list as he himself said he won’t be back to normal until the offseason. We were ravaged
Amen, Amen, Amen!!! Absolutely superb comment, realistic AND optimistic.
Thanks RC.
Maybe I should wait a day for posting this, as who knows, maybe we get a Celtics melt down tonight, but while I may be in the minority, and hope I’m wrong – but I don’t see a path to Miami contending for a while.
Age, injuries, draft capital and the salary cap are all against the team from South Beach.
To me, the fastest path to having a team that may again be among the elite, would be trading Jimmy and getting some draft picks and salary cap relief in return, but that doesn’t feel like a path Pat is likely to take.
I fear the run it back statement may be coming, because if Pat isn’t willing to part with Jimmy, and I think it’s unlikely he’d part with Bam, there isn’t much left in tank to make a move. As a fan who suspects the end is closer than the beginning, I do hope he doesn’t part with Jaquez or Jovic, for some misguided belief that this team is one piece away.
Anyway, I fear tonight is the end of this seasons Heat team, but I suspect we’ll see a very similar squad next year…
Good comments and I agree with them. It is a tough time to be a Heat fan now because injuries have ruined what could be our last chance at a championship. It feels like it may be the end of our window. The team we will put on the court tonite will bear very little resemblance to the team we were supposed to be. The talent discrepancy gap is too wide to have much chance (less than .03%). Wish we could have given the Celtics a better challenge. I think we would have, but we will never know.
That’s why you trade Jimmy for future of this teams sake. I’m not as doom and gloom cause I look out the landscape and plenty of teams could use Jimmy and here are some options of players that with 2-3 of these players and spo as coach also in the east the heat can turn it around rather quickly:
Atl: will be making a move
Murray?hunter? even CC?
NO: whom their gm already said they not running it back
Ingram Jonas herb jones trey Murphy Marshall nance jr and Zion probably a long shot
Okc who could use a steady vet
Jalen and Jaylin Aaron Wiggins Isaiah Joe?
Houston jimmys hometown
Jabari?, sengun? Brooks?
Dallas you never know
Hardy? Green? Washington? Gafford?
As I said before 2/3 maybe 3/4 of these players and there is no reason mia can’t compete in the east depending on which players they can get if at all.
Oh, injury Gods. You will only be satisfied once the Heat are out of the playoffs. Please forgot about the Heat next year. Thanks
Part of me wonders what’s going on with Miami’s medical team. Lately minor injuries seem to last weeks/months…
terrys injury is a spo scratcher.ive had neck issues if its not spine related gotta give it a shot thats weak terry.so if your not on the team next year dont care
The point is, you don’t know what the issue is and you’re trying to draw some kind of conclusion. Rozier showed a lot of toughness. If he was able to play, he’d be out there. And as usual, you are enamored with a player, and now “so if your not on the team next year dont care.” That thought process will probably surprise……. Absolutely nobody.
dolphins panthers to its ok to get the marlins
It’s what happens when you don’t take the reg season seriously (a best player personality trait) then have to play 2 playoff type games before your even in the actual playoffs.
Yup!!