Miami travels to Cleveland for a brutal road test against the league’s hottest team. The Cavaliers are riding a 10-game winning streak, and with a 28-4 home record, they’ve been nearly automatic at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Miami, meanwhile, is limping into this one—literally. With a long injury list and a depleted roster, can the Heat stay competitive, or is this another Cavs blowout?
Miami’s Injury Woes: Who’s Left?
The Heat are missing several key players, including:
- Nikola Jović (Hand) – Out
- Jaime Jaquez (Ankle) – Out
- Andrew Wiggins (Ankle) – Out
- Kevin Ware (Knee) – Out
- Dru Smith (Achilles) – Out for Season
With Jaquez and Wiggins out, Miami is severely lacking wing depth and will need to rely on Alec Burks and 35-year-old Kevin Love for minutes. That’s not ideal against a Cleveland team that thrives on size and physicality.
Recent Form & Betting Trends
Miami Heat
Despite their injuries, the Heat had been covering games before their last loss, going 4-1 ATS in their last five. However, with so many players out, it’s tough to trust them here.
- Last 5 Games: 3-2 SU, 4-1 ATS
- On the Road: 13-19 SU, 14-18 ATS
- Over/Under: 30-30-1 (Over in 3 of last 5)
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs keep rolling, with 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games. Even with Donovan Mitchell questionable (quad), Cleveland still has more than enough firepower to handle this Miami squad.
- Last 5 Games: 5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS
- At Home: 28-4 SU, 20-10 ATS
- Over/Under: 34-27-0 (Under in 6 of last 8)
Key Matchups & Analysis
1. Bam Adebayo vs. Cleveland’s Frontcourt
Bam Adebayo had 19 points and 15 rebounds in his last game, but he faces a nightmare matchup here. Jarrett Allen (25 points, 17 rebounds last game) and Evan Mobley (if he plays) will make scoring in the paint difficult for Miami. If Adebayo struggles, Miami has no reliable interior offense to fall back on.
2. Can Miami’s Guards Carry the Load?
With so many injuries, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier will have to take over the scoring. The problem? Cleveland’s perimeter defense ranks sixth in opponent 3PT% (33.7%). If Herro (16 points last game) and Rozier (15 points, 5 assists) can’t get into a rhythm, this one could get out of hand fast.
3. Cleveland’s Defense Should Dominate
The Cavs hold teams to under 45% shooting and allow just 106.8 PPG over their last 10 games. With Miami’s lack of scoring options, this could turn into a long night for the Heat offense.
