Miami Heat vs Brooklyn Nets Prediction & Match Preview - January 23rd, 2021 | NBA Season 2020-21
Last season's finalists Miami Heat will take on championship contenders Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center today in what is expected to be a high intensity NBA encounter. The Heat currently have an underwhelming 6-8 record, which they will be desperate to improve.
Match Details
Fixture: Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets
Date and Time: Saturday 23rd January, 8:00 PM ET (Sunday, 24th Jan, 6:30 AM IST).
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Miami Heat Preview
The Miami Heat lost their last game against the Toronto Raptors by a margin of 20 points.
The Florida-based team has faced COVID-19 related issues this campaign. This has stopped head coach Erik Spoelstra from naming his preferred starting lineup.
The team is also still missing star swingman, Jimmy Butler.
Key Player - Bam Adebayo
Bam Adebayo captured the NBA fraternity's attention in last campaign's postseason when he dominated games on both ends of the court. He signed a max contract in the offseason and has fully justified the deal with stellar performances this season.
Adebayo has averaged 18.6 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists per game so far, which shows his versatility and improvement in areas other than scoring. It safe to say that he will be the Miami Heat's trump card against a weak Brooklyn Nets defense.
Miami Heat Predicted Lineup
G- Goran Dragic, G- Gabe Vincent, F- Duncan Robinson, F- Kelly Olynyk, C- Bam Adebayo
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Brooklyn Nets Preview
The Brooklyn Nets have dominated the news lately, mostly because of the James Harden trade and the setback of missing Kyrie Irving. But on the court, they have failed to make an impact as they have lost their last 2 games against Cleveland Cavaliers who have the league's worst offense.
Kevin Durant is expected to return to the lineup today, and Steve Nash will be expecting a positive result from his men when they take the court.
Key Player - Kevin Durant
Despite not featuring in an NBA game for 560 days, Kevin Durant has shown the NBA fraternity that he is the same player he was before he tore his Achilles. The seven-footer has returned to the league in style and is putting up MVP numbers for the Brooklyn Nets.
The Slim Reaper is averaging 31.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Durant scored a team-high 38 points in the last game he played, and the Nets will be expecting a similar performance from him.
Brooklyn Nets Predicted Lineup
G- Kyrie Irving, G- James Harden, F- Kevin Durant, F- Jeff Green, C- DeAndre Jordan
Heat vs Nets Match Prediction
The Miami Heat are missing some key players like Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler for this game. The Brooklyn Nets, on the other hand, are expected to be at full strength, which might play in their favor. Fans can expect the Nets to win this game by a comfortable margin.
Where to Watch Heat vs Nets
The Miami Heat-Brooklyn Nets matchup will be televised nationally on NBA TV. The local coverage of the game will be available on YES Network and FSSUN. International fans can catch this game on the NBA League Pass.
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