Miami Heat 2023-24 schedule: Top 5 most anticipated games of the season

2. Dec. 25: Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers: First Christmas Day Matchup Since 2020

A game between the Sixers and Heat always seems to draw blood and fire from both the players and fans. The mix of this being Jimmy Butler’s former team and the battle between Joel Embiid and Bam Adebayo brings massive hype to this game. It’s also placed in a primetime slot at 8 p.m. on Christmas Day.

After gifts are exchanged in the morning, the next family gathering should be around the couch watching this clash. This will likely be one of, if not the best game of the day. Superstars sitting courtside in Miami and both teams wearing a shade of red to show Christmas spirit. It should go down to the wire in Kaseya Center, with Embiid and Adebayo putting on a show in the middle.

1. Oct. 27: Miami Heat at Boston Celtics: Battle In TD Garden

There’s an argument to be made that this is the best rivalry in the NBA. The Heat and Celtics have dueled in three of the last four Eastern Conference finals with Miami holding a 2-1 series lead. These two teams and fan bases surely don’t like each other and there aren’t many environments as hostile as Boston’s TD Garden.

This will be Miami’s first road game of the season after their season opener two days prior. The game will be televised on ESPN, set to take place on Oct. 27. It should be a highly competitive match in a game that Boston has been waiting all offseason to play. The hype around the season and high-level fan bases put this game as the No. 1 most anticipated match of the season.