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The Washington Wizards will fly down to Florida to face off against the Miami Heat at the FTX Arena on December 28th.
The Washington Wizards head into this game on the back of a 96-117 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. The defeat took Washington to 9-11 on the season.
The Miami Heat, on the other hand, are 21-13 following their 93-83 win against the Orlando Magic las time out.
Miami and Washington have split their two games this season, making the upcoming contest an interesting one.
Match Details
Fixture - Washington Wizards vs Miami Heat | 2021-22 NBA Season.
Date & Time - Tuesday, December 28th, 2021; 7:30 PM ET (Wednesday, December 29th, 2021; 6:00 AM IST.)
Venue - FTX Arena, Miami, FL.
Washington Wizards Preview
The Washington Wizards look like a shadow of the team they were at the start of the season.
The Wizards were one of the best teams in the East at the start of the season. However, they have struggled with consistency in the month of December, losing eight of their last 11 games.
A large part of this can be attributed to injuries. The Washington Wizards have seen a number of their players in and out of the rotation. Bradley Beal, the Wizards' All-Star guard has been out with injury for an extended period of time. He has been listed as questionable for the game against the Miami Heat.
The Washington Wizards will head into this game extremely shorthanded in their point guard rotation. With Spencer Dinwiddie being the only available point guard, Aaron Holiday will play a big role in supporting his efforts.
Additionally, Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell will have to be more effective on the scoring front.
Key Player - Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell was a major signing for the Washington Wizards in the offseason, along with Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The former Lakers duo and Harrell have been key performers coming off the bench.
Harrell brings a lot of energy in the frontcourt. A solid low post presence who attacks the glass, Montrezl Harrell creates a lot of opportunities for the Washington Wizards.
Although his performance against the Philadelphia 76ers was impressive, recording 15 points in 18 minutes played, his four rebounds for the game left a lot to be desired. An early ejection after a run-in with Joel Embiid saw him leave the game.
Heading into this game against the Miami Heat, Montrezl Harrell will be a key factor for the Wizards against the Heat. Due to Miami's lack of a solid backup center, Harrell will have to utilize the opportunity to establish himself as a threat down low.
Washington Wizards Predicted Lineup
G - Spencer Dinwiddie | G - Aaron Holiday | F - Corey Kispert | F - Kyle Kuzma | C - Daniel Gafford
Miami Heat Preview
The Miami Heat are another team that have been battered by injuries this season.
With the addition of players such as Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker to the rotation in the offseason, the Heat looked like title favorites. However, with both Lowry and Tucker joining Bam Adebayo on the injury report, the only active star on the roster is Jimmy Butler.
Despite the absence of some of their key players, the Miami Heat continue to be a competitive side. They will head into this game on the back of a three-game winning streak.
The Miami Heat have enjoyed the performance of players such as Gabe Vincent and Omer Yurtseven in the starting rotation.
The Heat also saw the return of Caleb Martin and Tyler Herro to the rotation. This has been a huge addition as it provides significant scoring off the bench, something the side needed desperately.
Key Player - Tyler Herro
Tyler Herro will be the Miami Heat's key player in this matchup against the Washington Wizards. Coming off an injury, Herro's availability for the team off the bench adds firepower to Miami's offense.
Herro is having a tremendous season. He has established himself as a candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player awards.
His ability to score from multiple spots on the floor is only complemented by his playmaking ability. Filling as playmaker in the second unit and playing point in the absence of Lowry, Herro's role in this game will be huge.
With the burden on Jimmy Butler being what it is, Herro will have to play a part in carrying the scoring load as well. While also factoring in the Wizards' shorthanded guard rotation, the 21-year old can prove to be a threat from beyond the arc.
Miami Heat Predicted Lineup
G - Gabe Vincent | G - Max Strus | F - Duncan Robinson | F - Jimmy Butler | C - Omer Yurtseven
Wizards vs Heat Match Predictions
The Washington Wizards vs. Miami Heat game is being billed as the marquee matchup of Tuesday night. Although both sides will miss their stars, the game should still be an interesting one.
Miami is favored to win the game for good reason. With homecourt advantage playing a major role, the momentum is also on the Miami Heat's side. Showing the tenacity of being a team under Erik Spoelstra, the Heat have some of the best roster chemistry in the league.
The Wizards have all the necessary pieces to pull off a win. However, in the absence of key players, the Wizards may struggle to find consistency.
Where to watch Wizards vs Heat game?
The Washington Wizards vs Miami Heat game will be nationally broadcast on NBA TV. The game will be locally broadcast on Bally Sports Sun. The game will also be available on the NBA’s League Pass platform. Fans can also listen to the game by tuning into WAXY 790/ WAQI 710.
Guess the Lakers players!
