In what will be the Miami Heat’s biggest game of their 2024-25 season yet, they are set for a crucial clash on the road versus Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. It will be the second straight win-or-go-home matchup for Miami, with a chance at securing the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot at stake.
Atlanta is coming off a 120-95 loss to the Orlando Magic in their 7/8 play-in game. In that contest, Young put up 28 points and 6 assists— but got very minimal help offensively elsewhere in the Hawks rotation.
Dyson Daniels, a candidate for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, will share the backcourt with the offensive prowess of Young. It is widely expected for Daniels to match up on the Heat’s Tyler Herro.
In Miami’s blowout victory against the Chicago Bulls in their own 9/10 play-in battle, Herro put on an offensive clinic. He led the Heat with a dominant, and versatile, all around game. The 25 year-old All-Star submitted a game-high 38 points on 13 of 19 shooting overall.
He was a perfect 8 for 8 from the field going into halftime of that game. And even got supplemental star help from the likes of Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins, along with impactful efforts from Davion Mitchell off the bench.
It will be a true test for Herro going up against Daniels in the key backcourt matchup tonight.
If the Heat can pull off the victory and win-out of their play-in path, they will become the first 10th seed in NBA history to punch their ticket into the postseason. The top seed Cleveland Cavaliers are patiently waiting to see who their first round opponent will be this evening.
Can Miami pull off yet another underdog upset with their season on the line?
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Nikola Jovic (hand) — QUESTIONABLE
- Pelle Larsson (ankle) — QUESTIONABLE
- Kevin Love (conditioning) — QUESTIONABLE
Atlanta Hawks:
- Trae Young (achilles) — PROBABLE
- Jalen Johnson (shoulder) — OUT
- Larry Nance Jr. (femoral condyle fracture) — OUT
- Kobe Bufkin (shoulder) — OUT
- Clint Capela (metacarpal sprain) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro, G
- Alec Burks, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
- Kel’el Ware, C
Atlanta Hawks:
- Trae Young, G
- Dyson Daniels, G
- Zaccharie Risacher, F
- Mouhamed Gueye, F
- Onyeka Okongwu, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:00 PM EST
- TV: TNT, TruTV, Max & 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)
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
Yeah that Daniels kid is different, Tyler need to be more creative so id say Bam goes bam and Wiggins gets going also.
See you all in game thread Go Heat!!
In their first meeting of the season, won by Atlanta, Jalen Johnson had 28 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. De’Andre Hunter had 26 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Johnson is injured and out for the season. Hunter was traded before the deadline.
In the second game, also won by Atlanta, Miami had one of it’s it’s worst games of the season. Herro had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Bam had 14 points and 5 rebounds, Mitchell had 6 points and 2 assists and Robinson had 3 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists.
Miami won the last two games vs Atlanta by a combined 32 points. Their key rotation players generally played very well.
Why should Miami win this game?
Heat by 15 sounds about right!
P.S. If I’m wrong, Miami gets two 2025 draft picks (one of them a lottery pick). Sounds like a Win/Win & a Lose/Win situation to me.
Why should Miami win this?
Coz I hate losing to these birdies lol
Heat by 10+
…or picks
Have to tune in for this one. Going to be exciting!
I can’t wait. With Daniels on him, Herro will need to shoot less and pass/assist more. If Miami’s defense clamps down on Trae, it’s going to be a very, very long night for Atlanta!
Go Heat!
daniels diff animal than huerter,still got bam wiggy for scoring.got 3 guys that should get 20 every night.slo mo dav good for 10 -12 hh good for 2 pts burks either 2 or 15.duncster get u 12 give up 15