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The Miami Heat will head to the Barclays Center for a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, March 3. In both meetings between the two teams this season, the Heat prevailed.
The Heat are coming into this game off a tough 120-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. Despite being 14 points behind with just five minutes left, the defending champions came out on top, courtesy of a stellar performance from Giannis Antetokoumpo. However, it was Jrue Holiday's game-winner that sealed the deal for the Bucks, giving them a win over the Heat at home.
The Brooklyn Nets, meanwhile, are also come into this game after a close defeat; they lost 109-108 to the Toronto Raptors.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam chipped in with 18 points apiece to help the team out of Toronto to a win. James Johnson and Seth Curry tried to keep the Nets in the game, but their efforts were not enough.
Match Details
Fixture: Miami Heat vs Brooklyn Nets | NBA Season 2021-22
Date & Time: Thursday, March 3, 8:30 PM ET (Friday, March 4, 6:00 AM IST).
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY.
Miami Heat Preview
Despite their loss against the Bucks, the Heat remain atop the Eastern Conference standings. They have a 41-22 record on the season. Miami have an unreal roster brimming with talent in the starting lineup and bench players.
Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry have been their main players this season. However, Tyler Herro, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Omer Yurtseven have also chipped in handsomely. The Miami Heat thrive under pressure, which they have shown in many games this season.
Against the Nets, coach Erik Spoelstra will hope to see his troops return to winning ways. The defeat against the Bucks came due to a lapse in concentration, which they will look to avoid against the Nets.
Key Player - Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. He has been terrific for the Heat since his arrival in 2019, and has been a great leader for the team's younger players.
This season, Butler has averaged 21.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 5.7 APG in 44 appearances. He has also elevated his game at the defensive end, and has contributed massively to the team's overall success.
The Miami Heat will hope for Butler to be at his best against the Nets. He is coming off a six-point performance against the Bucks, and will need to fare better than that at the Barclays Center on Thursday.
Miami Heat Predicted Lineup
G - Gabe Vincent; G - Duncan Robinson; F - Jimmy Butler; F - PJ Tucker; C - Bam Adebayo.
Brooklyn Nets Preview
The Brooklyn Nets have been disappointing lately. Their recent setbacks have seen them slide to eighth in the East, with a 32-31 season record.
The franchise secured the likes of Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond at the trade deadline, and now look like a well-balanced unit. However, due to injuries, the team is not at full strength, which is impacting their performances.
Kevin Durant is expected to be back in action in this game, which should be a great boost for the Nets.
The 33-year-old was in stellar form before his injury, so the franchise will hope to see the same from him in the remainder of the season. With just 19 games left, the Nets will hope to regain their mojo and climb up their conference standings.
Against the Heat, Brooklyn will be keen to end their two-game losing streak. With Durant back, they are a lot stronger, and will fancy their chances of a win. However, the Nets will need a strong team performance to beat the table-toppers at the Barclays Center.
Key Player - Kevin Durant
The Brooklyn Nets have not listed Kevin Durant on their injury list, so he will most likely play his first game for the Nets in more than a month.
Durant is averaging 29.3 PPG on 52.0% shooting from the field, leading the team from the front. In his absence, the team went on an 11-game losing streak, and have lost four of their last five outings.
Durant's return could not have come at the right time for the team as the race for the playoffs heats up.
Against the Miami Heat, Durant will look to hit the ground running. It is going to be a tough outing for him, as Miami have some of the best defenders in the league. However, considering the skills he possesses, Durant will fancy his chances of returning the Nets to winning ways.
Brooklyn Nets Predicted Lineup
G - Patty Mills; G - Seth Curry; F - Bruce Brown; F - James Johnson; C - LaMarcus Aldridge.
Heat vs Nets Match Prediction
The Heat and the Nets are two of the best teams in the East, and could meet in the playoffs. However, in this game, the Heat look like the favourites because of their better recent form.
They have a lot of depth, while the Nets are still trying to figure things out. Considering the same, the Heat are expected to win this game.
Where to watch the Heat vs Nets game?
All games will be available to stream live on the official NBA app. This game between the Heat and the Nets will also be locally telecast on Bally Sports Sun and Yes Network.
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