(Photo via Imagn Images)
Following another significant and thrilling statement win on Friday over the Charlotte Hornets, the Miami Heat face another tough task. They will look to win their fifth straight game back at home versus the top seed Detroit Pistons.
Despite the Pistons dominant 45-17 record and the best in the Eastern Conference, they are dealing with injuries to their top guys. Each of Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson were sidelined yesterday in Detroit’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, leaving a major hole in their backcourt. The game in Miami Sunday evening will be the second leg of a back-to-back for the Pistons.
For the Heat, this will be the first of four consecutive games at home inside Kaseya Center— and seven of their last eight will now have been played at home, as well. Miami is starting to peak up steam at the most important time of the season, as a push to avoid the play-in and get as high as the fifth seed in the East remains a legitimate possibility.
Aside from their current win streak, the Heat have also won seven of their last nine matchups. They have improved to six games above the .500 mark at 35-29 overall and have a favorable remaining schedule. Keep in mind, they are doing all of this with their All-Star Norman Powell still sidelined with a groin injury. Each of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have been fantastic to keep things afloat and lead Miami in this stretch.
The Heat are 1-1 over Detroit this season. Can they secure another upset win?
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Detroit Pistons:
- NOT YET SUBMITTED.
Miami Heat:
- Andrew Wiggins (toe) — QUESTIONABLE
- Norman Powell (groin) — OUT
- Nikola Jovic (back) — OUT
- Simone Fontecchio (groin) — OUT
- Keshad Johnson (g-league) — OUT
- Jahmir Young (g-league) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Detroit Pistons:
- Daniss Jenkins, G
- Marcus Sasser, G
- Duncan Robinson, G/F
- Tobias Harris, F
- Jalen Duren, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Pelle Larsson, F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 6:00 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!
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Maybe mods didn’t set their clocks?
doris burke talks to much
All the remaining home games are must win games. If Miami wins it’s remaining home games and splits its road games, it should be ok.
Pistons paint scoring collapsed last night w/o Cade, they lost in the paint by -2 to BKN
BKN had 48 PITP, same as vs Miami on Thursday. But Miami had 68 and was +20.
On the year DET is +14 in PITP vs opponents. Miami is +3. Miami needs to keep the difference close this game
I hope Dunc will be reminded what Heat did for him in past, despite hfl s opinion about him.
A missed shot or five would be much appreciated.
DET takes only 31 3PA per game, among the lowest rates in the league, and shoots below league average from three (34.5%, league avg is 35.8%). They started Marcus Sasser last night to get more shooting on the floor.
DET still has the #11 offense because in addition to Cade and Duren they win on the margins – #3 at OREB%, #7 in drawing fouls (FT/FGA), #1 in forcing turnovers (opponent TOV%).
Those are areas the Heat match up with well – Heat are tied for #10 in DREB%, #7 in not fouling (opponent FT/FGA), and tied for #3 in lowest TOV% (behind only BOS and OKC).
Will be interested to see how much the Heat go zone to get Bam and Ware on the floor. Pistons despite not shooting great from 3 move the ball and cut on offense. Expecting a big game from Bam in this one
I don’t think Heat are at the same level, especially in term of strength and length. This would be a feel good win, but there are other games more important.
I really think this game is there for the taking, the line is moving slightly against Miami (it was DET -1.5, now -2.5) after the news that Wiggins is out, but it’s still a close predicted margin. DET is very deep but not having Ausar is a big deal. And I think even being down two starters Miami’s guard and wing play still matches up well with DET. The league is behind on how good Larsson is at wing and how good Jakucionas is as a 19 year old. Probably Jaquez too is still underrated.
There’s an edge this team is playing with since Herro returned that is good to see. Have to prove it vs a tough team. Would be fun to see some Myron Gardner minutes vs his hometown team. And I think Bam wins this matchup vs Duren (who is legit, I just think Bam is having an all-NBA season)
I m not worried about wings and guards, I m worried about centers.
Yeah that’s fair, DET has the best #2 and #3 centers in the league in Stewart and Reed. Big game for Ware and for Larsson, Jaquez, Gardner, Jakucionas to keep the rebounding close. Jakucionas is going to have a breakout game eventually
Hopefully. Its gonna be epic game.
Miami has one of the best 1-2 centers in the league, Bam and Ware.
id say the best
Agree on Bam, think he’s the 3rd best center in the NBA behind Jokic and Wembanyama. Ware has a ways to go but that’s ok since he’s only in his second year. They’re slightly worse (-0.2) with him on the court. That’s been narrowing lately because he’s playing more with Bam. His activity level has been really high but he can’t give up OREBs to this lineup
Every game is important. It does no good to beat Detroit then lose to a lottery team. Heat must play one game at a time and treat each one like a must win playoff game. No margins for error.
Yes it is, but some games will be lost. If I have to pick, this one wouldn’t hurt that much.
I beg to differ with you. Of Miami’s 18 remaining games, 10 are at home and 8 are on the road. 13 are against winning teams. Of those 13 games, 7 are at home and 6 are on the road.
After today’s game against Detroit, Miami has home games against the following winning teams:
Miami has road games against the following winning teams:
In addition to Detroit today, which other home and road games do you think Miami can afford to lose against winning teams “that wouldn’t hurt too much” and still retain a shot at making a #5 or #6 playoff spot?
SA , Houston, Boston and one of the Cleveland and Toronto games.
Three clearly better teams, and split with Cle and Toronto.
Thats 5 games. Add another unexpected loss from this group and another one from group bellow 0.5, and its 11-7 in those games. Add Detroit game and its 11-8.
Thats should be good enough for 6th or even 5th.