GAME PREVIEW: Heat to host Raptors following four-day break

Miami is 1-1 against Toronto this season and will look to bounce back from their previous matchup, riding a season-high three game win streak. (Photo via Getty Images)

As the Miami Heat aim to continue their recent breakthrough, they will host the 7-18 Toronto Raptors inside the Kaseya Center. The Heat are 1-1 against Toronto this season, who will be without the services of their franchise player Scottie Barnes due to injury.

However, key contributors in Kelly Olynyk and Gradey Dick will play tonight, who sat out each of the previous matchups between the two squads. The Heat are on a season-high three game win streak, and in the midst of seven wins over their last 10. They come into the night sporting a 12-10 record and sit at the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

After a week long of developing Jimmy Butler trade speculation, all eyes will be on the vibes of the franchise superstar. Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, disputed the recent Shams Charania reports, mentioning that they are “made up” and “fabricated” in an all-time Twitter rant. He is coming into the game with a career-high in shooting efficiency and will aim to continue his winning impact with the Heat, despite all the rumors.

As for other Heat stars, Tyler Herro is coming off another elite outing, where he dropped 34 points in the team’s latest win against the top seed Cleveland Cavaliers. He is in the midst of building up his very first All-Star caliber campaign, averaging a career best in virtually every statistical category.

This will be the first of just two games during a near two-week stretch amid the NBA’s in-season tournament for Miami. Before they play host to the contending OKC Thunder next weekend, these next games against the Raptors this evening and Detroit Pistons on Monday should be viewed as must-wins.

The Raptors will look to use their length to their advantage against a smaller Heat squad. Without Barnes in the lineup, look for RJ Barrett to take a lot of responsibility on the offensive end. Barrett dropped an efficient 30-piece against the Heat in their last matchup, where the Raptors earned a 119-116 victory.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Miami Heat:

Jimmy Butler (knee) PROBABLE
Pelle Larsson (ankle) DOUBTFUL
Josh Richardson (heel) OUT
Josh Christopher (g-league) OUT

Toronto Raptors:

Scottie Barnes (ankle) OUT
Bruce Brown (conditioning) OUT
Immanuel Quickley (elbow) OUT
AJ Lawson (g-league) OUT
Ulrich Chomche (g-league) OUT

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Miami Heat:

Tyler Herro, G
Duncan Robinson, G
Jimmy Butler, F
Haywood Highsmith, F
Bam Adebayo, C

Toronto Raptors:

Ochai Agbaji, G
RJ Barrett, G
Gradey Dick, F
Kelly Olynyk, F
Jakob Poeltl, C

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Broadcast Info: