(Photo via Imagn Images)
The Miami Heat are one of eight teams to reach the NBA Cup quarterfinals knockout round, which is set to take place on Tuesday evening versus the Orlando Magic.
The Magic have had the Heat’s number so far this season, going 2-0 against them including a recent one-point victory just last week. Heat captain Bam Adebayo spoke on that notion in yesterday’s practice: “It’s going to be competitive… two Florida teams going against each other so that’s always a rivalry,” Adebayo said. “We’ve lost two there, at least looking to get one back.”
Miami is also in the midst of a rough patch— losing four out of their last five games and currently in the midst of a three-game losing skid. They are due for a huge bounce back performance, and what better opportunity to do so than in a crucial win-or-go-home nationally televised NBA Cup matchup? And to keep in mind, these Cup games, outside of the championship, do count towards their regular season record in the East standings.
The winner of this Heat-Magic game will go on to face the winner of the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks in Vegas for the final four of the NBA’s in-season tournament.
Orlando will be without Franz Wagner, who is sidelined with an ankle injury suffered in the Magic’s previous loss against the Knicks. As for the Heat, they are expected to get all three of Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson back in the lineup. Dru Smith (hip) is the only player on Miami’s injury report that is listed as questionable. It will be intriguing to see the Heat’s core guys in Herro, Norman Powell and Adebayo all healthy again in a high stakes game like this. Powell remains Miami’s leading scorer, currently averaging 24.8 points on a career-best near 45% from 3-point range.
Tonight’s crucial match will be streamed exclusively on NBA on Prime!
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Orlando Magic:
- Moritz Wagner (knee) — OUT
- Franz Wagner (ankle) — OUT
- Colin Castleton (thumb) — OUT
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro (toe) — PROBABLE
- Pelle Larsson (hip) — PROBABLE
- Davion Mitchell (groin) — PROBABLE
- Dru Smith (hip) — QUESTIONABLE
- Vlad Goldin (g-league) — QUESTIONABLE
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Orlando Magic:
- Jalen Suggs, G
- Desmond Bane, G
- Paolo Banchero, F
- Tristan da Silva, F
- Wendell Carter Jr, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Norman Powell, G/F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 6:00 PM EST
- TV: NBA on Prime
- 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!
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pls pls eric no shnozic,go with the group that looked so good to start the season.
w.o wagner better be a w
He always gives us trouble. And, looks like many of our injured are back. This is a game that unless our shooting is particularly off, we should win.
team was rolling w/o ty not sure him coming back is a good thing.lack of defense one on one game not good for team ball.