After a dismal final game of 2023, the Miami Heat hope to begin 2024 on the right track with a road bout against the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. EST on Monday.
The Heat had their four-game win streak snapped Saturday with a 117-109 loss to the Utah Jazz, a game where both teams shot a combined 27.8 percent (20-71) from 3-point range with 26 combined turnovers. Nearly half (53) of the Heat’s points came from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo; Jimmy Butler, in his first game back from a calf injury, left midway through with a foot injury and had just eight point son three shots in 23 minutes.
Ever since the Clippers moved Russell Westbrook to the bench post-James Harden trade, the Clippers have been one of the best teams in the NBA. Over that 21-game stretch, it’s 16-5 with a plus-5.8 NET Rating, the No. 5-best mark leaguewide (Heat are 11-9 with a 2.8 NET).
In December, the Clippers were 11-2 , with the losses coming to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics by a combined 46 points. Five of those 11 losses came by double figures, including its 11-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies Friday.
Can the Heat, who swept the season series over Los Angeles last year and is 6-2 all-time on New Year’s Day, knock off the Clippers without Jimmy Butler and possibly Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin? Only time will tell…
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Jimmy Butler (foot) — OUT
- Haywood Highsmith (illness) — DOUBTFUL
- Kyle Lowry (head) — QUESTIONABLE
- Caleb Martin (ankle) — DOUBTFUL
- Josh Richardson (back) — PROBABLE
- Orlando Robinson (G-League) — OUT
- Dru Smith (knee) — OUT
- Cole Swider (G-League) — OUT
Los Angeles Clippers:
- Kawhi Leonard (hip) — QUESTIONABLE
- Mason Plumlee (MCL) — QUESTIONABLE
Projected Starting 5:
Miami Heat:
- Kyle Lowry, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Jaime Jaquez Jr., G/F
- Nikola Jovic, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
Los Angeles Clippers
- James Harden, G
- Terance Mann, G
- Paul George, F
- Kawhi Leonard, F
- Mason Plumlee, C
Betting Lines (at the time of this publishing):
- Spread: Clippers -7.5 (-112)
- O/U: 227.5
- Moneyline: Clippers -295, Heat +240
Check out those lines and more at Fanduel Sportsbook!
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 10:30 p.m. EST
- TV: Bally Sports Sun
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
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This is a real test. Lets get that W and run off a sweep next games in this east coast trip. Yes, even without Jimmy. Go Heat!!
Playing in LA on New Years Day? Against a team with James Harden? And it’s Jamie’s first time back in LA since he graduated?
I predict both teams will be suffering from the South Beach Flu, and this game won’t be pretty.
Duncan Robinson for Austin Reaves (plus a 2nd)? Lakers need 3 point shooting.
Sure! Sign him up.
saw him and turtle n picks for kawhi.
reaves doesnt move the dial much
Lakeshow have shooters just having a bad season in that area like the Heat last time. And I dnt think lakers will do that trade.