(Mandatory credit: Imagn Images)
After a three-game win streak, the Miami Heat have since lost two straight. They will look to bounce back as they return to Kaseya Center to host the visiting Houston Rockets for an early weekend matchup Saturday.
The Rockets are coming off a win versus the Orlando Magic in a game where Kevin Durant dropped 40 points on 50% shooting. Houston has won six of their last 10 games and currently sporting a 37-21 record as the third seed in the Western Conference. With the Heat down Norman Powell, they will have less star power to counter against the likes of Durant.
Powell left the Heat’s previous game in Philadelphia early with a groin injury, and has since been shut down moving forward. He is now listed as week-to-week. It is expected for Tyler Herro to instantly reclaim a role in the starting lineup in Powell’s absence.
Just another rough blow for a Heat team that has dealt with injuries all season long. They will now need to pivot to adjusting to a Powell-less rotation.
This Rockets game will be the first of a three-game homestand for eighth seed Miami, who are now 1.0 game behind the seventh seed Magic and 2.5 games behind the sixth seed Philadelphia 76ers. With just 20 games left in the regular season, there’s still time for the Heat to make a push to avoid the play-in, but each loss is going to matter even more. Can they get back on track today? Let us know in the comments!
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Houston Rockets:
- Jae’Sean Tate (knee) — OUT
- Tristen Newton (g-league) — OUT
- Steven Adams (ankle) — OUT
- Jabari Smith Jr (ankle) — OUT
- Fred VanVleet (knee) — OUT
Miami Heat:
- Norman Powell (groin) — OUT
- Nikola Jovic (back) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Houston Rockets:
- Amen Thompson, G
- Tari Eason, G
- Dorian Finney-Smith, F
- Kevin Durant, F
- Alperen Sengun, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Pelle Larsson, F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 3:30 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!
***
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
no tv only on prime?welcome to 2026
Sucks. I pay for NBA Team Pass and can’t get it. I’m not even in black out area.
got amazon prime sunman can u get here
No thanks. NBA is just ripping people off. WTF happened to Rozier case Adam? Absolutely nothing.
We need Giannis to come back (expected soon) , Bam shooting 3’s and losing the ball dribbling between his legs 40 feet from the basket for no reason, more turd quarters, then playing Jovic whenever he decides to come back…then just maybe the Bucks have a shot to impress the Freak to stay by taking the 10th spot and Heat despite having enough & being so privileged…will be forced into the draft lottery.
The problem is that every time Bam, Herro and others attempt to be “the closer” they fail. Thank you Pat Riley. At least Arison is showing a healthy profit and the team’s value has increased by billions. So at least we have that. Plus they are raising ticket prices and blacking out more games? Awesome!!!
bam herro vs cleve in playoffs that where i knew bam is a third option.dwade ud on pre game show for amazon good to see.2 very smart guys who prob should be in our fo not utah smh
HOU is betting favorite but this is a winnable game for MIA if they come out sharp in the 1Q.
HOU is #29 in pace, MIA #1. MIA has to impose their pace on the game. HOU is #1 in OREB at 15.3 per game but that was because of Steven Adams. Without Adams in February HOU is averaaging 11.5 OREB per game which is exactly league average. Miami is #6 in DREB% so another area to watch. HOU’s offense isn’t great and relies on getoffmydickerson to make tough shots which of course he can/will do.
Where is Niko when we need him. He is made for tanking.
That Serb is made for tanking
And that’s just what he’ll do
One of these days that Serb is gonna tank all over you…
(There’s no time like the present)
i like frank better than nancy
I think I hear that one..
Well, definitely a difficult task ahead. Nothing the Heat can do but reach deep down and fight. With Powell out it may not be enough. On the other hand, it’s nice to have a distraction from weightier matters.
As the world burns…
had to be done