Heat Look to End Three-Game Skid vs. Hornets
The Miami Heat are in the midst of a five-game homestand and a three-game losing streak, with their most recent loss coming yesterday against the Bulls 114-109. This loss is just another late-game collapse by Miami, which puts them ninth in the East at one of the most important parts of the season. However, they look to end the losing streak against the Hornets, who they beat twice early in the season, 98-94 and 114-106, with the help of Tyler Herro's 20-point performances. The Hornets come in off a 105-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets, ending their nine-game losing streak.
Tyler Herro is probable with an illness, while Duncan Robinson and Haywood Highsmith are questionable with back and knee injuries. Herro had been dealing with the illness for the past week, though he is still expected to suit up, barring any setbacks. The Hornets have LaMelo Ball, Jusuf Nurkić, and Mark Williams all listed as day-to-day with ankle, neck, and foot injuries, previously missing their game versus the Nets. Ball’s ankle issue has been lingering since early January, I still expect him to suit up for the game as he was just out previously for injury management.
Both teams come into this game at the bottom of the league in offensive points per game, with the Heat at 110.1 points per game, which ranks 25th and the Hornets at 105.3 points per game, which ranks 28th. On the other hand, Miami is top-15 in the league for defensive rating with a rating of 112.2, hoping that can be enough to help their offense out and get the win. Players to watch out for are Bam Adebayo, who posts 17.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 10 boards per contest. With both Nurkic and Williams potentially out, it could be a big night for the big man. Miles Bridges comes into the game averaging 20.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Bridges is coming off recent 30-point and 40-point games, looking to lead the way if LaMelo gets ruled out.
Miami will need to tighten up their execution in the closing minutes if they hope to snap their streak. Their struggles in crunch time have been a recurring issue, having blown 14 fourth-quarter leads, eight of them coming in their last nine losses. With most of these blown leads coming post-Jimmy Butler era, Miami needs Herro to play at his all-star level and have Adebayo take advantage of the Hornets' hurt center rotation and have a big night that hopefully leads to a good end-of-season stretch for him. This is a momentum-shifting game for the Heat, they desperately need to help with playoff positioning. The Eastern Conference standings are tightening up, every win counts this late in the season as the Heat try to climb back into the top six and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
