After a few days off, the Miami Heat will be back in action to kick off the final road trip of the season— starting with a back-to-back set of matchups versus the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto is currently in the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed at 43-35 overall. These two games could be crucial and potentially set up a play-in battle between the Raptors and Heat, depending on the result. Toronto has lost six of their last 10 games, and coming off a most recent loss to the Boston Celtics. Miami is 0-2 versus the Raptors this season.
Their size typically has caused problems for the Heat defense over the years, with versatile players like Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram leading the way. This would be a great game for coach Erik Spoelstra to give Kel’el Ware more extended minutes following his dominant near triple-double effort with blocks in the previous win against the Washington Wizards.
In that game, all of the other young players showed out for Miami as well. Jaime Jaquez totaled a team-high 32 points, along with strong minutes from Pelle Larsson and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis.
Norman Powell could potentially be returning from another nagging injury that has kept him out a few games— he is listed as probable to suit up. Tyler Herro, who was a late scratch ahead of the Wizards game, is also listed as probable dealing with a sore foot.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Toronto Raptors:
- Immanuel Quickley (foot) — QUESTIONABLE
- Sandro Mamukelashvili (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
- Collin Murray-Boyles (quad) — QUESTIONABLE
- Chucky Hepburn (knee) — OUT
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro (foot) — PROBABLE
- Norman Powell (conditioning) — PROBABLE
- Nikola Jovic (ankle) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Toronto Raptors:
- Immanuel Quickley, G
- RJ Barrett, G
- Brandon Ingram, F
- Scottie Barnes, F
- Jakob Poeltl, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Norman Powell, G/F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 PM EST
- TV: ESPN & 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!
Biggest game of the year. This is the Heat’s last stand as their backs are against the wall. It’s going to be intriguing.
TOR is #4 at forcing turnovers on defense vs MIA #4 at preventing turnovers on offense. The first two games in December were played on Toronto’s terms, Miami averaged 18.5 TOV, 5 above their season avg.
Toronto is not much better at 3PT shooting than Detroit, they average 11 3PM per game but averaged 15 in the two Miami games vs Miami 8.5. Their defense limited Miami to shooting 40% and 42% overall those games. Herro and Larsson didn’t play in either.
The game is basically a coin flip with TOR favored by 1.5 at home. Miami has not been a great road team this season (16-22). Their one standout road win in the last few months was vs Charlotte. That game Herro had 33 and was +19, Bam was +9. Think Miami will show up these games and will need a big impact from Bam, around +20 to win
If I had to guess, the Heat drop both games in Toronto. They win in D.C. and then a last second buzzer beater to win at home against Atlanta. 43-39 record finish
My head hurts from banging it against the wall after reading that they might start Herro alongside Powell again.
The three guard starting line-up with a small PF and C hasn’t worked. If they don’t intend to keep Powell, why start him? If they do intend to keep him, what will they do with Herro? Very stubborn people.
I’m not sure what Kel’el’s real upside is. I suspect Spo while getting the most of of him while he’s on the court, isn’t getting as much as a team who wasn’t dedicated to making the most of a bad roster would.
I suspect Miami will never see Kel’el Ware graduate into a key player, and I fully anticipate Riley trading him, wether it’s for a broken down Giannis or so mid level piece the former god father thinks can turn this middling team into a contender…
That said, games like he had against the Wizards (who I know are basically the Washington Generals), show how unique a piece he could be, if he was dedicated and a team was willing to give him run to get there.
Ware included in a Giannis trade would be a great outcome for Miami IMO. If I was Milwaukee, would be asking why Ware has negative on court impact, particularly on defense. But maybe MIL or another team does still think that Ware has star level upside based on his draft position and production on offense
Cooper Flagg has is -275 this season. He’s probably a net small positive for his awful team. Guess they’d be wise to trade him for Giannis too?
Ware is 21. He’s not a finish product. If the Heat were championship contenders, his negative minutes would probably be upsetting. But Miami is firmly mediocre and closer to bad, he should be playing more, for experience regardless of results.
The fact that you can’t see past plus minus to determine future wealth is insane.
Also – Giannis hasn’t played 75 games in 8 seasons. But Miami should surely trade all of it’s youth for a few years of watching a broken down Super Star. We should probably give up Bam for AD while we are at it.
⬆️ What he said! Plus 💯!
Ditto.
Flagg is -275 on a team that is -436 for the season, and is leading the team in minutes
Ware is -43 on a team that is +182
DAL is 1.8 points worse on defense with Flagg, the #22 defense in Flagg’s minutes (117.8 defensive rating) and the #17 defense without him
Miami is 3.2 points worse on defense with Ware, the #20 defense in Ware’s minutes (116.4) and the #6 defense without him (113.2)
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2026/on-off
So the numbers in your comparison of Flagg vs Ware show a big difference
Miami would be extremely foolish to trade Ware and keep Herro. Kid has a ton of potential. He’s only 21. But I wouldn’t be surprised if that is exactly what Riley does. I guarantee you if Miami trades him they will regret it. 7 foot, shot blocking, 38.4% 3 point shooters don’t grow on trees. Especially not on 4 year rookie contracts with two more years to go.
First, let me say that if Ware is a key part of such a trade, it would show beyond any doubt whatsoever that he is valued in this league more than anyone would try (unsuccessfully) to suggest otherwise. I agree with you totally about his value, both as a player and contractually. But, if there really was a deal that included Ware, Herro, and draft picks, I can’t see the Heat saying no. But they can’t give up the whole store. I would not want to include Jaquez and Pelle. I know someone who would give them everybody on the roster, but guess what? Do that and they will only be marginally better. You need solid complimentary players to be a true contender. Giannis is one of the best players in the league and I really have to admire a guy that insists he wants to play even though his team is eliminated from contention.
Just my opinion, but this is one of the few times I don’t agree. If you have give up Pelle and Jaime, amongst others, to get Giannis, you do it and be happy they took them, and try to keep as much as you can of Ware, Bam, Davion, Andrew, and Norm. But, the Bucks will want more.
Powell and Wiggins both have health issues. Mitchell has limitations. If you also gut the bench, how far can the team go?
I’d avoid Giannis like the plague. His couple years here, where he plays 60 games a season, isn’t worth trading a ton of assets. Solid role players and a number of first round picks, to end up in the same situation we are currently in or what the Bucks are in, is crazy.
It could be worse than Bucks if Miami is left with no draft picks or young players.
Exactly. To be clear, I approach issues from 2 sides – what I would do, and what I think Riley and Co would do. Hfl fired me from my temporary Heat personnel job last week because I said I wouldn’t do the Giannis deal he suggested. I think the best route for the Heat is to continue building with youth and then making a strategic move or 2 to be a competitive long term. But knowing that Riley is getting older and has been frustrated in his attempts to bring in a superstar, I think he’ll do the deal if Milwaukee is open to it.
Powell and Wiggins are probably gone. Herro will be gone next year (hopefully).
MIAMI IS NOT IN A WIN NOW MODE BECAUSE THIS DOG CAN’T HUNT!!
Miami should be looking for ways to expedite the rebuilding process, not following pipe dreams that go nowhere.
I knew my opinion wouldn’t be popular, and it’s probably just a ruse anyway. The problem is before the deadline the Bucks were somewhat in charge of where he would be dealt. In the off season that may not be the case as much, and he may choose a team who is closer to contention. So, yeah, I’d want him if we could get him. But, is it likely?, not very.
I agree. If you gut the team’s youth and futures draft picks to acquire a ss, when the team stumbles, that same ss will be the first one to say he wants out. Heat can do better than putting all its eggs in one basket and praying the bottom doesn’t drip out.
If Miami wants any hope of being able to keep up with San Antonio and Wemby 3 to 4 years down the line, they’d better keep Ware. Bigs with his type of upside aren’t readily available. I know Riley and the front office still feel the burn of investing in Hassan Whiteside, but this is a totally different case. Plus, like SunMan said, he’s on a rookie deal. We’ll have his Bird rights, and his draft class isn’t that strong, so it’s not like we’ll have to compete with a ton of people in his draft class automatically getting max deals.
What he said
Ditto 😆