As a result of the Miami Heat being eliminated from the 2024-25 NBA Emirates Cup, the league announced the two extra games that each team not in the knockout stage will play between Dec. 12 and Dec. 16.
For the Heat, they will host the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 12 (7:30 p.m. EST) while traveling to play the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 16 (7:00 p.m.).
Miami split a pair of games against the Pistons this season, including a 123-121 overtime loss123-121 overtime loss in Detroit to open group stage play. I don’t have any timeouts to stop you from saying that Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t have any, either. Too soon?!? My bad.
The Heat also split a pair of games against the Raptors last weekend—beating them by 10 in group stage play on Friday before losing by three on Sunday in the second night of a home-road back-to-back.
These two games come in the heart of a difficult 20-game stretch for the Heat, including six of their nine against the Suns, Cavaliers, Thunder, Magic (twice) and Rockets.
Miami has teetered on mediocrity the entire season and, frankly, each of its previous two seasons. It is currently 9-10 with the NBA’s 16th-best adjusted NET Rating, including the 19th-best offense and 11th-best defense.
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Two more sub .500 teams to help pad the record. Unfortunately, Miami has already lost to both teams this season. So there’s that.