The post-Jimmy Butler era hasn’t kicked off the way the Miami Heat have wanted, having dropped their last two games, including the debut of Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Kyle Anderson in Monday’s loss to the Boston Celtics.
On Wednesday night, they face an even tougher test: The league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of the NBA’s top record. And they’ll likely have to do it without multiple key contributors.
Here’s what to know for Wednesday night’s tilt.
How to watch Heat at Thunder
Time: 8 pm ET
Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
TV: FanDuel Sports Network
Stream: NBA League Pass
Key stats
Over the last 10 games, the Thunder rank third in offensive rating and third in defensive rating, outscoring teams by a league-best 15.2 points every 100 possessions.
Meanwhile, the Heat have slipped to 28th in offensive rating and 15th in defensive rating, and are being outscored by 7.6 points every 100 possessions.
(Does quick math.)
That’s a difference of nearly 23 points every 100 possessions!
One interesting battleground: The offensive boards. The Thunder rank fifth in offensive rebounding rate, while Miami ranks third in defensive rebounding rate. Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware will have to be locked in to keeping Isaiah Hartenstein off the glass.
Key injuries
For the Heat, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozer are all questionable with a stomach illness. Kevin Love is out for personal reasons. Herro and Jaquez are meeting the team in Oklahoma City after not flying with the team initially because of their illnesses. Rozier and Robinson missed Wednesday morning’s shootaround due to the same illness.
The Thunder wil be without Chet Holmgren, who is getting a day off after recently returning from a hip injury. Rotation players Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Ajay Mitchell (toe) are also out.
Key matchup
When you’re playing the Thunder, it starts with guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the odds-on favorite for MVP who is averaging a league-leading 32.6 points per game. Gilgeous-Alexander does most of his work driving to the basket. He averages a league-high 21.1 drives per game and generates points on 76% of those possessions, according to Second Spectrum tracking data.
Expect the Heat to go with the defensive-leaning Mitchell and Wiggins in the starting lineup again. Wiggins will likely get the Gilgeous-Alexander assignment, but the Thunder will involve Miami’s centers, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware, in plenty of the action. Adebayo is as good as any center in the league when switching onto a ball-handler, but SGA is a handful. The rookie Ware will be tested in his drop defense, as will Miami’s perimeter defenders. Coach Erik Spoelstra will dabble with some zone.
Betting
The Thunder are 14-point favorites at home over the Heat.