Following the Miami Heat’s six-game West coast trip that featured them finish at an even 3-3 record, they will return home for a marquee matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Not only is this a 2023 NBA Finals rematch, but it is the anticipated return of both Jimmy Butler and the re-released Vice jerseys.
Butler’s seven-game team suspension has officially ended, and the Heat star is not on the team’s injury report heading into the matchup. The expectation is that he may be in the starting lineup amid his return. Although, the rest of that first unit is yet to be determined.
Prior to Butler’s suspension, coach Erik Spoelstra had been rolling with the lineup of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Butler, Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo. However, guard Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have been inserted into the group for the entirety of their recent road trip.
Miami is in the midst of dropping two straight and has limped to a 5-5 record over their last 10 games. Additionally, they have dropped to the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed at 20-19 overall.
As for the visiting Nuggets, they are coming off a loss of their own, and have a hefty injury report filled with several of their core pieces. MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon are both listed as questionable, and sat out in the their latest loss.
Butler is going to be the centerpiece of this matchup, as all eyes will be on his overall impact, engagement and body language in the midst of all the trade drama.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Josh Richardson (heel) — OUT
- Dru Smith (achilles) — OUT
Denver Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray (knee) — PROBABLE
- Nikola Jokic (elbow) — QUESTIONABLE
- Aaron Gordon (calf) — QUESTIONABLE
- DaRon Holmes || (achilles) — OUT
- Vlatko Cancar (knee) — OUT
- Trey Alexander (g-league) — OUT
- Spencer Jones (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
Denver Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray, G
- Russell Westbrook, G
- Michael Porter Jr., F
- Aaron Gordon, F
- Nikola Jokic, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 8:00 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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I love it. Play him. We don’t pay you to play dominoes and drink coffee. Go out there and risk injury too, bub. Pat and Spo bringing the HEAT! lol
Problematic employee is back in the office. Yeah we’re gonna get blown out
Tonite will be interesting. We are all hoping for the best but I am not sure the best will be that great. We still have a little time before the deadline for a team that decides to go all in, to go a little further in their offer, and perhaps also for our GM to lower his expectations a little, but only a little as Jimmy has some serious value. I still remain hopeful that will be what transpires. Anyway, it does make for almost must see viewing tonight.
As he runs on the court, we pull him out. You’ve just been traded for cash considerations and a player to be named later.
I’m working tonight at the game, so kinda anxious to see how the return of Jimmy goes…
oh man you gotta report back on the vibe in the arena!
I will be watching for your comments. I’ll be out tonight, so I will miss the big reveal! Will be checking my phone periodically.
Most interest pregame of the season. I think I ll watch it from the beginning tomorrow.