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Miami Heat: Preview vs. the Kawhi-less Toronto Raptors

By Duncan Smith

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 26: Delon Wright #55 of the Toronto Raptors and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat exchange jerseys after the game on December 26, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 26: Delon Wright #55 of the Toronto Raptors and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat exchange jerseys after the game on December 26, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The 31-34 Miami Heat host the NBA’s second-best team in the form of the Toronto Raptors. The visitors will be sitting their best player, Kawhi Leonard, with load management concerns.

The eighth-seeded Miami Heat will play host to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Raptors will rest Kawhi Leonard due to load management. This is a practice they usually follow on the second half of back-to-back games, but in this case they’ll be resting him on the front end which could allow him to play Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Raptors are 13-5 without Leonard in the lineup, a winning percentage of 72.2 which is almost identical to their overall winning percentage of 71.2, so rest or not, the visitors are no pushovers.

The Raptors are 2-0 against the Heat so far this season, but Kawhi Leonard played both of those games.

In addition to Leonard, the Raptors will be without guard Fred VanVleet.

As for the Heat, expect them to roll out the same starting lineup they’ve featured the last several games. The five-man unit of Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters, Josh Richardson, Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo has thrived together with a net rating of +15.1, outscoring their opponents by that margin per 100 possessions.

They’ve started the last six games together and over that span have an offensive rating of 128.6 and a net rating of +19.1. While lineup net rating can be a noisy stat that takes time to coalesce, it’s clear that this is likely a formidable unit, and they could do well at home against a Raptors’ squad without their best player.

The Heat will roll out a healthy roster including Goran Dragic, who scored 11 points in 15 minutes in his return to the lineup Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Toronto Raptors projected starting lineup

Out: Kawhi Leonard, Fred VanVleet

Miami Heat projected starting lineup

dark. Next. Derrick Jones Jr.: New addition to the Heat's Big Four

The Heat look to protect their one-game margin for the eighth seed as this game will tip off at 3:30 PM Eastern.

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