(Photo via Miami Heat/X)
Following the Miami Heat’s most exciting win of the 2025-26 season on Monday, they will again host the Cleveland Cavaliers on the second leg of a back-to-back set between each other.
Although it will be a rematch, the Cavs will look drastically different in this one. They are resting both All-Star starters Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland will be sidelined due to a re-aggravated toe injury that kept him out in the closing stretch of Monday’s overtime game inside the Kaseya Center. For the Heat, it will be the same exact injury report, with everyone available outside of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
The Monday night win featured a Jaime Jaquez Jr. game-tying midrange jumper to force overtime. That was then followed by coach Erik Spoelstra’s perfectly drawn up inbounds play that lead to an Andrew Wiggins buzzer beating game winning alley oop with .4 second left on the clock. Jaquez continued his bounce back campaign with a near triple-double outing of 22 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists in the win.
Wiggins also quietly continued his strong season of his own thus far, adding 23 points and 5 boards on route to his clutch game winner. Norman Powell led with a team-high 33 points, as Kel’el Ware added a career-high 20 rebounds. Spoelstra stated after the game that it was Ware’s “best game in a Miami Heat uniform.”
Miami is aiming to extend to a four-game winning streak, along with improving to an undefeated 6-0 at home tonight. They are currently the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference at a 7-4 record overall.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro (ankle) — OUT
- Bam Adebayo (toe) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
- Myron Gardner (g-league) — OUT
- Jahmir Young (g-league) — OUT
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- Larry Nance Jr. (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
- Darius Garland (toe) — OUT
- Donovan Mitchell (rest) — OUT
- Evan Mobley (rest) — OUT
- Max Strus (foot) — OUT
- Chris Livingston (g-league) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Norman Powell, G
- Pelle Larsson, G/F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Kel’el Ware, C
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- Lonzo Ball, G
- Sam Merrill, G
- De’Andre Hunter, F
- Dean Wade, F
- Jarrett Allen, 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)
Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Check out Hot Hot Hoops on Facebook here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
I saw an article on Jaquez in FANSIDED which suggested he may be in the running for sixth man of the year award. I thought this passage was worth sharing with y’all.
“As it stands right now, JJJ is the betting favorite to win 6th Man of the Year in the NBA, with Ajay Mitchell and Quentin Grimes trailing behind.
The turnaround for Jaquez Jr. has been remarkable, and Monday night’s game against Cleveland might have best symbolized how far he has come since last year. Back in April, when Miami got swept by Cleveland, Jaquez Jr. played a total of 19 minutes in the series. On Monday, he played 33 minutes and had 22 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, one steal, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Totally different Cavs team this time around. But, be careful of letting up on them.
Everyone who saw Heat pick up Powell for price of a Happy Meal AND the resurgence of Jaquez, please raise your hand. Next time you go to confession, don’t forget to tell the priest about your lying.
With them playing the way they are plus the return of Herro, that 38.5 win season might be 9.5 or more games too low. Take their production away and the team wouldn’t be 7-4.
I was, and remain, astounded at the Powell deal! I’m not sure, value wise, that there was a better deal in Heat history. And it is one of the worst deals for the Clippers. As for Jaquez, did I expect him to rebound this season? Yes. Did I expect him to play like this? Hahahahaha, NO! And really, there are so many nice stories with this team so far – Wiggins, Dru healthy, Simone also rebounding from an off year, Davion’s effort every second of every game (and single-handedly supporting the chewing gum industry), a #44 pick in the starting lineup, etc. I could not have hoped for more, except that extra big to help with rebounding.
Well you got me beat on the Jaime resurrection, didn’t see it coming at all. To your list of happy surprises, and you got the biggest ones, I would add Ware, who at times looks like he could become the answer at center. And Pelle smoothly being inserted into the starting line-up and according himself well.
I certainly didn’t see this soaring level of play by Jaquez at all, just thought he’d be better. Couldn’t be much worse. I left out the very nice improvements of both Ware and Jovic until I see the consistency. And I think we will see it. Both players appear to have turned the corner. The nature of the team, the support and motivation, and the camaraderie have contributed to their and the team’s success.
And the fact Beal is now out for the rest of the season. Ouch! You chose wrong, Clips!
*That was then followed by coach Erik Spoelstra’s perfectly drawn up inbounds play that lead to an Andrew Wiggins buzzer beating game winning alley oop with .4 second left on the clock.*
Actually, it was Coach Quinn who both created that play and drew it up in the huddle, according to reports.
In overtime.