Two red hot teams face each other tonight at the AmericanAirlines Arena.
GAME STORY
The Miami Heat are back to playing winning basketball with a four-game win streak and they’re looking like the team that surprised many with their performance in the bubble. While the team remained largely intact since then, the roster was decimated by injuries, COVID-19 related absences, and lethargic play on both ends of the floor.
Since Jimmy Butler has returned to action after a lengthy absence, however, the team has slowly but surely rounded into form. Bam Adebayo continues to shine but Kendrick Nunn has been a revelation since returning to the starting lineup. Now Goran Dragic is back as well, having rejoined the team since their road trip concluded and he provided an offensive boost off the bench for the homecoming win against the visiting Toronto Raptors two nights ago.
What more needs to be said about the Jazz, who have the NBA’s best record at 26-6 and gave the Heat a resounding thumping in their first meeting of the season, a 112-94 win in Utah on Feb. 13 in which Donovan Mitchell led his team with 26 points. They’re an impressive 11-4 on the road this season and have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games.
Tyler Herro remains day-to-day with a hip injury and is listed as questionable, though Adebayo appeared on the injury list yesterday and is listed as questionable with left knee tendinosis. Not having him available would be a serious blow to the Heat with Rudy Gobert enjoying an MVP-like season.
While the Heat are inching their way up the standings as they continue to improve, a win against the Jazz would certainly be a statement and a wake-up call to the rest of the NBA that they are and continue to be a dangerous team.
ODDS: FiveThirtyEight gives the Heat a 40% chance to win the game.
HEAT VS JAZZ: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 AT 8:00 PM.
INJURIES
MIAMI:
- Meyers Leonard: out for season (shoulder)
- Avery Bradley: out (calf)
- Chris Silva: out (hip)
- Tyler Herro: questionable (hip)
- Gabe Vincent: day-to-day/probable (knee)
- Bam Adebayo: questionable (left knee tendinosis)
UTAH:
- Udoka Azubuike: out (ankle)
LINEUPS
BROADCAST INFO
TV: FOX SPORTS SUN
RADIO: The Ticket 790AM & The HEAT Radio Network (Mike Inglis, Ruth Riley Hunter)
SPANISH RADIO: WAQI 710AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda, Joe Pujala)
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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