Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors: Injury Updates and Game Preview
Pelle Larsson will be out due to a hip injury, while Tyler Herro and Dru Smith are available for the upcoming game. Terry Rozier is out as he is not with the team, and RJ Barrett is sidelined with a knee injury. Additionally, Jamison Battle is out with an ankle injury, and A.J. Lawson is day-to-day with a hip issue. The game is scheduled for Monday, December 15th at 7:30 p.m. EST at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. It will be broadcasted on FanDuel Sports Network Sun and Sportsnet, with radio coverage on WQAM 104.3 & The Heat Audio Experience.
The Miami Heat (14-10) will face the Toronto Raptors (15-11) in their first of four regular season matchups. This game was added after both teams did not advance to the NBA Cup semifinals. Miami has a favorable history against Toronto, winning the series 3-1 last season and five of the last six games overall. The Heat hold a 65-43 all-time record against the Raptors in regular season games, with a 39-17 home record and a 26-26 away record.
The starting lineup for the Heat includes Davion Mitchell, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell, and Andrew Wiggins. The Raptors will start Immanuel Quickley, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Ingram, and Scottie Barnes. The point spread favors the Heat by 6 points, with a moneyline of -220 for Miami and +184 for Toronto. The total points scored is set at 237.5, with the over slightly favored at -108.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra noted the similarities between the Heat and Raptors this season, highlighting their aggressive style of play and defensive commitment. He expects a competitive game as usual when these two teams face off.