Another Miami Heat game day comes another chance to get things back on track. Tonight, the squad will continue their homestand in hosting the Charlotte Hornets.
Miami is in the midst of their roughest stretch of the season, which only seems to be getting worse. Since the Jimmy Butler trade, they haven’t been able to get into any sort of rhythm in the win column.
They have lost three in a row, four of the last five games and 10 of their last 14. Somehow, they still remain in the play-in picture in a weak Eastern Conference. However, their playoff ceiling seems to be dwindling to a first round appearance at best as currently constructed.
The Heat have lost 14 games this season in which they’ve had a lead in the fourth quarter. And since January 1, they have been outscored by 104 points in that final period while limping to just 29% from 3-point range.
It has been a painful 2024-25 campaign by all means necessary. But arguably not as painful as their opponent on Monday in the Hornets.
LaMelo Ball is off the Hornets injury report and will hope to bring a boost to their lineup. Charlotte is coming off a win against the Brooklyn Nets in Ball’s absence in their previous game.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Josh Christopher (G-League) — OUT
- Tyler Herro (illness) — PROBABLE
- Haywood Highsmith (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
- Alec Burks (back) — QUESTIONABLE
- Nikola Jovic (hand) — OUT
- Dru Smith (achilles) — OUT
- Duncan Robinson (back) — QUESTIONABLE
- Andrew Wiggins (ankle) — PROBABLE
- Josh Christopher (g-league) — OUT
Charlotte Hornets:
- Tre Mann (herniated disc) — OUT
- Brandon Miller (wrist) — OUT
- Jusuf Nurkic (neck) — PROBABLE
- Josh Okogie (hamstring) — OUT
- Tidjane Salaun (g-league) — OUT
- KJ Simpson (g-league) — OUT
- Grant Williams (ACL) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
- Kel’el Ware, C
Charlotte Hornets:
- LaMelo Ball, G
- Nick Smith Jr., G
- Miles Bridges, F
- Josh Green, F
- Moussa Diabate, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 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)
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
At least the injury list is shorter. After losing last game to the Bulls, it feels like we could lose any game now, including this one. So, we need to re-establish some sense of hope, and tonite would be an excellent time to do so. So, come on Heat, play to your potential.
Bulls were rock bottom. I dont know, what would this be.