After another Miami Heat victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on New Year’s Day, the team will look to continue their recent surge on the second night of a home back-to-back. The Heat have won two straight games, and four of their last five. They have also improved to a 7-1 record in their last eight home games, and a 9-4 record with their starting lineup of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo.
Herro put together another elite outing in the latest win with 32 points on 50% shooting. He got plenty of help from the versatility of Adebayo, who added a near triple-double effort of 23 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds on an efficient 9 of 14 shooting.
Tonight’s matchup will feature the 16-18 Indiana Pacers, who are sitting at the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are coming off a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, but have still won six of their last 10 matchups. The duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner will have to be contained tonight, along with the contributions from Pascal Siakam.
It will also be Thomas Bryant’s return to Miami, who was acquired by the Pacers in a trade for a second-round draft pick with the Heat. He has been getting increased minutes with Indiana as they were in need of an established back up big man behind Turner.
Jimmy Butler was quiet in his return to the lineup on Wednesday, who finished with just 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 25 minutes. He didn’t play a single minute in the fourth quarter, as coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned he would be easing him back into the fold postgame.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- NOT YET SUBMITTED.
Indiana Pacers:
- Quenton Jackson (g-league) — DOUBTFUL
- Enrique Freeman (g-league) — DOUBTFUL
- Isaiah Jackson (achilles) — OUT
- Aaron Nesmith (ankle) — OUT
- James Wiseman (achilles) — OUT
- Tristen Newton (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro, G
- Duncan Robinson, G
- Jimmy Butler, F
- Haywood Highsmith, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
Indiana Pacers:
- Tyrese Haliburton, G
- Andrew Nembhard, G
- Bennedict Mathurin, F
- Pascal Siakam, F
- Myles Turner, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 PM EST
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network 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)
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Really looking forward to this one and watching JB. Can they win in spite of him like last night – this time against a really tough Pacers team? The team winning while he has quit on them would take away his leverage (that he wants to go to a winning team).
From Jimmy’s perspective – wants a contract and security beyond his one year $52m player option for 2025-6. Can’t fault him or any player for that. From FO perspective, wants clean books, with Bam and Tyler the only significant contracts past 2025-6.
The East is wide open this year (Boston is the clear favorite but is heavily reliant on 3PT shooting) but this contract situation is overshadowing everything right now for the Heat. Interesting labor-management dispute.
Also wondering how the new CBA is affecting this situation. This new CBA is heavily pro-management (the players are getting screwed). In the old CBA Brandon Ingram for example would be paid by now. But the new CBA is affecting the valuation of contracts. Jimmy is going to do everything he can to get the most he can get. Riley with Wade has already shown he is not afraid to let players walk in FA.
I saw this trade idea this morning and thought it looked interesting.
A blockbuster 3-team package involving the Kings, Heat, and Golden State Warriors could potentially help all three teams.
Golden State receives: Jimmy Butler
Sacramento receives: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney 2 first round picks (one each from GS & Miami)
Miami receives: De’Aaron Fox and Gary Payton II
I saw this very similar one.
De’Aaron Fox trade idea for the Miami Heat:
Heat Receive:
Warriors Receive:
Kings Receive:
Interesting. If anybody can pull this kind of trade off, it’s Riley. Something for everybody.
This should be an interesting game.
Important game. Lets go Heat!