Miami Heat Injury Report and Matchup Preview vs. Boston Celtics
The Miami Heat will be without forward Andrew Wiggins and guard Davion Mitchell in their game against the Boston Celtics due to lower back pain and a sprained ankle, respectively. Wiggins is averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals this season, while Mitchell is averaging 9.9 points, 7.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.
The injury report also includes Tyler Herro with a toe injury, Nikola Jovic with an elbow injury, Pelle Larsson with a hip injury, Terry Rozier not with the team, Jayson Tatum with an Achilles injury, and Ron Harper Jr. day-to-day with a calf injury. The game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:00 p.m. EST at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics will face off for the first of four regular-season matchups. Last season, the Celtics won the series 3-1. The Heat have a historical record of 54-86 against the Celtics in regular-season games, with a 30-42 record at home and a 24-44 record on the road.
The projected starting lineups for the game are: G Dru Smith, G Norman Powell, C Kel'el Ware, F Simone Fontecchio, and F Bam Adebayo for the Heat, and G Payton Pritchard, G Derrick White, C Neeimas Queta, F Jaylen Brown, and F Jordan Walsh for the Celtics. The betting odds favor the Celtics by 7.5 points, with a total points scored over/under set at 230.5.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed his expectations for Kel'el Ware, emphasizing his involvement in pick-and-rolls similar to Bam Adebayo. The team will look to make strides and secure a win against the Celtics in this matchup.