After a strong start to their road trip filled with stellar shooting performances, the Heat suffered back-to-back losses, one of which being a major fourth quarter collapse and the other without Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. It's crucial this week for Miami's shooting to improve, anything near their three-point shooting against the Knicks or Nets screams trouble.
Miami will enjoy their upcoming schedule after starting the season with 12 of their first 17 games on the road. Of the Heat's next eleven games, nine will be played on their home court where they have a 4-1 record.
The Heat start this week with an In-Season Tournament matchup against the Bucks, their second meeting this season. It's a high stakes game with the Heat sitting one game behind them in the tournament standings. If Miami goes on to beat Milwaukee, and the Charlotte Hornets go on to beat the New York Knicks, it gives the Heat an opening to sneak into first place in the tournament standings (depending on point differential). Tyler Herro led the Heat with 35 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in their first meeting against the Bucks this season.
Miami will then have back-to-back games against the highest scoring team in the league, the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers allow the most points per game to their opponents, and if we continue to see the Heat play with constant movement in their offense and have key offensive players back, it's likely we'll see those high scoring games for Pacer opponents to continue.
Key injuries to Butler (ankle), Adebayo (hip), Herro (ankle), Duncan Robinson (thumb) and Haywood Highsmith (tailbone) are huge hits to this team’s depth but the Heat have always embraced the next man up mentality. One question is, how will the next man up respond as the Heat's homecoming awaits?
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