The close to January is right around the corner for the Miami Heat, staring down five games to close out the final nine days of the month. If each month of the NBA season is a chapter, this one has been plenty tumultuous.
Starting with back-to-back losses against the Sacramento Kings (?) and the Golden State Warriors, that then gave way to four straight wins. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo saw their returns to the lineup while recently, Kyle Lowry has missed the last three outings.
But a month of the good, the bad, and the ugly can close with an exclamation point. The Heat are just a half-game back from the top seed in the East.
Injuries are thinning the Chicago Bulls backcourt and Kevin Durant is out with a knee injury for the Brooklyn Nets. With the next four at home, it is an opportune time to catch some of the competition.
Here’s what the Miami Heat are looking at to close their month.
Predicting The Miami Heat’s Closing Stanza Of January Games
Their closing batch of games starts with a home matchup against the volatile Los Angeles Lakers.
January 23rd – Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are a sloppy team that needs LeBron James heroics to beat bad teams. They are top five in turnovers per game and sit in the league’s bottom half in offensive and defensive rating.
But none of this is new information or all that surprising if you watch basketball night-to-night.
Now, this weird Lakers team that lacks reliable depth is on a long East Coast road trip. You should anticipate more of a slobber knocker in this game instead of the scoring fest we saw in the last meeting.
Score Prediction – 97-108 Heat win
January 26th – New York Knicks
As of January 23rd, the Knicks have lost the last three outings, including losses to the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves. One of the season’s surprises is New York’s dedication to the long ball, averaging 36.4 3’s each game.
Despite that change in offensive identity, the Knicks rank 27th in points per game. Part of the problem is a stagnate offense.
New York is second to last in assists per game. That, combined with Julius Randle‘s regression from an explosive 2020-2021 campaign, should make this a home win.
It won’t be easy, but it shouldn’t be too tough for the Heat to overcome.
Score Prediction – 98-114 Heat Win
The Miami Heat Don’t Have Gimmes To End January, But Not ‘Hard’ Games Either
The final three games of the month are against three of the league’s more tricky teams. While Kawhi Leonard could return, a Clippers team with a healthy Paul George could make a little run, currently 8th out west.
The Boston Celtics haven’t been terribly good this season, but firmly in play-in territory, they have the talent to get hot at any moment. The Raptors are— well, the Raptors.
Any contest between them and Miami can get heated.
January 28th – Los Angeles Clippers
Despite losing Kawhi Leonard last season in the playoffs and Paul George after a red-hot start to the year, the Clippers remain frisky. While you expect the studs on the Miami Heat like Butler and Adebayo to take over this game, it is a coinflip what kind of LA team shows up.
Is it the team who shot 50 percent from three against the Indiana Pacers and scored 139 points? Or is it the squad that could not even manage to put up 90 against New Orleans?
When in doubt, trust the defense. Miami holds opponents to 44 percent from the field, the 8th best in the league. Pray the Clippers don’t get hot, I guess?
Score Prediction – 110-116 Heat Win
January 29th – Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have bounced back after a year on the road, battling for a playoff spot behind a pleasantly surprising rookie year from Scottie Barnes. However, in the recent bout with Miami, the Raptors had no answer for Tyler Herro or really any of Miami’s guards, despite their talent and length on the wing.
Toronto also struggles to win fast-paced games they cannot turn into rock fights. At home, this feels like a game in which Miami can control the tempo and find another victory.
Score Prediction – 97-106 Heat Win
January 31st – @ Boston Celtics
The Celtics have one of the more frustrating offenses in basketball. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum average 49.2 points per game and are potentially the most talented wing duo in the NBA.
Unfortunately, the Celtics lack an old-school, pass-first point guard.
The offense is painfully stagnant, essentially wasting their young star power. The team averages 22.8 assists per game and as a result of the team’s tendency to play hero ball, Boston’s scoring ranks 21st in the NBA.
It feels like a homer move to give Miami five straight wins, but after a homestand, taking on a bad offensive team for the first game on the road plays to the Heat’s advantage. The Heat’s ability to move the ball well will show up in stark contrast to the Celtics’ inability to do just that.
Score Prediction – 100-92 Heat Win
The Miami Heat came up just short in a comeback attempt over the Hawks on Friday. A nice little streak to close the month would be just what the doctor ordered to help them forget how that one went.
They have a great shot at it too. That’s especially with a motivated Jimmy Butler based on the aforementioned event.