Well, we are now at the finish line … for the regular season, at least.
Coming off a record-setting performance Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Miami Heat return home for one final time this season against the Washington Wizards Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EST.
The Heat crushed the Pelicans in their road finale 153-104, breaking a franchise record for the most points scored in a single game while becoming the first team in NBA History to have 11 players with at least nine or more points scored in a single game. It also marked their largest-ever road margin-of-victory and their second-largest margin-of-victory ever–coming 11 points shy of their 60-point win over the Portland Trail Blazers last year.
For more on their historical win, click here.
Miami is locked into the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Chicago Bulls on the road Wednesday in the 9-10 play-in game.
Losers of five straight and eight of its last nine, Washington, on the other hand, is fighting for the No. 1 pick at 17-64. It is currently tied with the Utah Jazz for the best lottery odds, which grants them a 52.4 percent chance at earning a top-4 pick and a 14.0 percent chance at the No. 1 pick.
A win Sunday would mark the second time since 2012-13 that the Heat close the regular season winners of nine of their final 12. The only time that happened was in 2020-21; they closed last year’s regular season 8-4 over their final 12.
Washington has lost each of its last four meetings and six of its last seven against the Heat? Will Miami be able to secure one more at home–potentially their last home game until next October?
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Bam Adebayo (rest) — OUT
- Alec Burks (back) — OUT
- Tyler Herro (rest) — OUT
- Nikola Jovic (hand) — OUT
- Dru Smith (achilles) — OUT
- Pelle Larsson (ankle) — OUT
- Kevin Love (personal) — OUT
- Isaiah Stevens (foot) — OUT
- Andrew Wiggins (hamstring) — OUT
Washington Wizards
- Saddiq Bey (knee) — OUT
- Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) — OUT
- Bilal Coulibaly (hamstring) — OUT
- Anthony Gill (hamstring) — OUT
- Richaun Holmes (shoulder) — OUT
- Corey Kispert (thumb) — OUT
- Khris Middleton (knee) — OUT
- Jordan Poole (elbow) — OUT
- JT Thor (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Duncan Robinson, F
- Haywood Highsmith, F
- Kyle Anderson, F
- Kel’el Ware, C
Washington Wizards:
- Bub Carrington, G
- AJ Johnson, G
- Justin Champagnie, F
- Kyshawn George, F
- Alex Sarr, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 1:00 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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we need a giddey stopper for wednesday nobody has done it im putting mr johnson on the aussie.keshad has the perfect nba body.i dont care if he doesnt score a point just put a physical specimen on giddey,giddeys been bulling our little ones way to much.watch the film eric
If you really think Keshad will get off the bench Wednesday, I have to start worrying about you. The odds of that happening are slim to none. And it isn’t about can he do it or what do we think. It’s about a rotation that has been set for weeks now. You can expect your great eight.
Coach will probably use Alec Burks, HH or Larsson to guard him while Herro will have to do his best against Coby White.
The great 8 minus Bam, Herro, Wiggins and Burks = Fearsome Foursome. Doesn’t leave too many on the bench.