LA Lakers vs Miami Heat Prediction and Preview for 2024 NBA Summer League | July 10, 2024
The 2024 California Classic NBA Summer League will wrap up its competition with an LA Lakers vs Miami Heat matchup tonight. The purple and gold squad has yet to win a game after previously losing to the Sacramento Kings 2 and the Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, the Heat are 1-1 heading into this game with the opportunity to finish strong at a 2-1 record.
This head-to-head meeting offers another chance for fans to check out their young cast of players on the court. Lakers rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James continue to find their footing with some offensive struggles here and there.
When it comes to Heat rookie Kel'el Ware, the organization seemed to have struck gold with him after his impressive showing in the Summer League.
This will be the first time these two teams will see each other in this competition.
LA Lakers vs Miami Heat preview, prediction and rosters
On the final day for the Califonia Classic round of games for the 2024 NBA Summer League, the LA Lakers vs Miami Heat matchup will commence at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. It will also be nationally televised by ESPN 2.
LA Lakers vs Miami Heat preview
As promising as Dalton Knecht is, a huge portion of the Lakers' media coverage has been focused on the arrival of Bronny James. After playing one year with the USC Trojans, there remains a question about the kind of player he will turn out to be.
It remains an eventful offseason for LA, who also made noise when they hired former Clippers guard and podcaster JJ Redick to be their new head coach.
The Miami Heat, on the other hand, are still in the process of constructing a roster with enough versatility to counter the elite teams in the league. They have always been an underdog of sorts, especially considering they don't have the biggest of names in stars and role players.
Aside from Kel'el Ware, Isaiah Stevens has also been showing his strides as a player on the court. That Ware-Stevens two-man dynamic also showed flashes of brilliance in the Summer League.
LA Lakers vs Miami Heat rosters
LA Lakers roster
Colin Castleton: F, Mohamed Diarra: F, Sean East II: G, Blake Hinson: F, Bronny James Jr.: G, Dalton Knecht: F, Tommy Kuhse: G, Maxwell Lewis: F, Kyle Mangas: G, Grayson Murphy: G, Joirdon Nicholas: F, Quincy Olivari: G, Armel Traore: F, and Vincent Valerio-Bodon: G
Miami Heat roster
Gabe Brown: F, JC Butler: F, Josh Christopher: G, Caleb Daniels: G, Keshad Johnson: F, Pelle Larsson: G, Zyon Pullin: G, Neal Sako: C, Isaiah Stevens: G, Cole Swider: F, Kel'el Ware: C, Bryson Warren: G, Warren Washington: C, and Alondes Williams: G
LA Lakers vs Miami Heat prediction
The Heat squad is coming off an impressive win last Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings 2, with Kel'el Ware's double-double performance (26 points and 11 rebounds) leading the way.
The Lakers could make things interesting but the Heat have great momentum heading into this game to pull off a commanding victory.