(Mandatory credit: Miami Heat/X)
The inconsistency has consistently continued all the way up to the All-Star break for the Miami Heat. Following their embarrassing loss at home to a tanking Utah Jazz team, they will squeeze in one more road matchup versus the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night before a much needed nine days off.
Miami is hovering over the .500 mark at 28-27 overall and going into New Orleans with a 12-16 road record. The Pelicans have won two straight games, but have an abysmal 15-40 record at the 14th seed in the Western Conference. This will be the third consecutive game for the Heat against tanking teams.
Over the last 5 matchups between the two, the Heat are 4-1 against the Pelicans— including a 125-106 win at home against them back in January 4. In that victory, Norman Powell scorched the New Orleans defense with 34 points. However, he will be sidelined for the second straight outing with a sore back. Powell will now also miss five of his left seven games.
Of course, Miami is still dealing with Tyler Herro’s availability issues, too. Herro hasn’t played in nearly a full month due to a rib injury and still isn’t with a timetable for a return. Key Heat role player Pelle Larsson is also dealing with an injury that will keep him out for the third consecutive game tonight. After dropping 26 points in the previous loss, Andrew Wiggins has found his way onto the injury report now with a toe sprain. He is listed as questionable.
The Heat will look to continue leaning into Bam Adebayo to lead the way and hope for next man up mentality to follow through with rotation contributions elsewhere.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
New Orleans Pelicans:
- Micah Peavy (toe) — QUESTIONABLE
- Dejounte Murray (Achilles) — OUT
- Trey Alexander (g-league) — OUT
- Hunter Dickinson (g-league) — OUT
Miami Heat:
- Andrew Wiggins (toe) — QUESTIONABLE
- Norman Powell (back) — OUT
- Pelle Larsson (forearm) — OUT
- Tyler Herro (rib) — OUT
- Keshad Johnson (g-league) — OUT
- Vlad Goldin (g-league) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
New Orleans Pelicans:
- Trey Murphy |||, G
- Herbert Jones, G
- Saddiq Bey, F
- Zion Williamson, F
- Derik Queen, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Myron Gardner, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
- Kel’el Ware, 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)
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!
- Bam Adebayo crushes critics over 83-point game: ‘You can’t be mad at that’
- Heat extend their win streak to a season-high seven straight in 112-105 victory over Bucks
- NBA GAMETHREAD: Milwaukee Bucks (27-37) @ Miami Heat (37-29)
- GAME PREVIEW: Bam Adebayo, Heat seek seventh-straight win against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- Hanifan: Nobody should care how Bam Adebayo scored 83 points
Just fyi and to stir the pot a little bit, in his last 2 SkyForce games, Keshad had 29/9/6 with 2 blocks and 4-9 from distance, followed by 13/10/3 with 2 steals, 1 block, and 3-7 from distance
time to start nico
it cant be worse as it is
Oh yes it can. A lot worse.
I agree. Jovic should start…in Sioux Falls and Keshad should be returned and get pt.
bout time to axe fonzi and put the gardner in dumbot.jeez this guy takes forever to make positive rotation adj
im surprised nobody took a cheapie on dirty jalen.this fn team is always hurt its because the martian commissioner schedules b2bs.which should be abolished.i learned from tennis b2bs are killers body needs to rest and heal
With our injury list, especially if we are w/out Andrew, this is a pick em game. That is, unless the Pels tank for us.
Geez. Wizards, Jazz and Pelicans Brutal schedule. Murderer’s Row! It will be a miracle if Heat goes 2-1. This would have been a good stretch to see what Vlad the Impaler can do. Oh well. Riley skulking around like a scavenger to see if a player ends up on the buyout list who he can pick up for next to nothing. I hope he doesn’t pick up another guard.