Heat back home to host Cavaliers, eyeing three-game win streak

The Miami Heat are coming off a pair of wins against some bottom-seed Western Conference teams. But now, the challenge shifts to an East contender as Miami is back home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers inside Kaseya Center.

Miami concluded their five-game West Coast trip with a winning 3-2 record, improving to 5-6 overall. Now only would a win against Cleveland be a statement against a playoff contender, but it would finally get the Heat to a .500 record for the first time this season. Four of the team’s five wins— excluding the Atlanta Hawks a few weeks back— have come against below average teams.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is still dealing with his sore wrist, but he has continued to make himself available despite the lingering injury. He is listed as probable again versus the Cavaliers. The Heat star is coming off a 30 points and 11 rebounds outing, good for his eighth straight double-double.

However, a pair of other Heat starters are both deemed questionable in Pelle Larsson and Klay Thompson. If either isn’t good to suit up, expect Andrew Wiggins to receive another opportunity with the first unit after he was relegated to the bench in favor of Larsson.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Miami Heat:

Giannis Antetokounmpo (wrist) — PROBABLE
Pelle Larsson (illness) — QUESTIONABLE
Klay Thompson (ankle) — QUESTIONABLE
Vlad Goldin (g-league) — OUT

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Sam Merrill (elbow) — OUT
Evan Mobley (toe) — OUT
Nae’Qwan Tomlin (back) — OUT
Khalifa Diop (g-league) — OUT
Ernest Udeh Jr. (g-league) — OUT

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Miami Heat:

Davion Mitchell, G
Klay Thompson, G
Pelle Larsson, F
Giannis Antetokounmpo, F
Bam Adebayo, C

Cleveland Cavaliers:

James Harden, G
Donovan Mitchell, G
Peyton Watson, F
Mario Hezonja, F
Jarrett Allen, C

Broadcast Info:

Tipoff: 8:00 PM EST
TV: WPLG Local 10 (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)

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