Miami Heat Struggle with Injuries Ahead of Clash with Celtics
The Miami Heat have officially announced that forward Andrew Wiggins will miss Friday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics due to lower back pain. In addition, guard Davion Mitchell will also be sidelined, nursing a sprained ankle.
Player Performance Before Injury
Wiggins has been a key contributor for the Heat this season, averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, along with 1.1 blocks and steals across 24 games. His shooting efficiency is noteworthy, hitting 47.4 percent of his field goals and 38.1 percent from three-point range. Meanwhile, Mitchell has also made his mark, contributing 9.9 points, 7.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 50 percent from the floor and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Injury Report Overview
As the Heat prepare for this critical encounter, their injury report highlights several absences:
Davion Mitchell: Out – Ankle
Andrew Wiggins: Out – Back
Tyler Herro: Out – Toe
Nikola Jovic: Out – Elbow
Pelle Larsson: Out – Hip
Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team
The Celtics are facing their own injury challenges, with star player Jayson Tatum missing the game due to an Achilles issue. Ron Harper Jr. is listed as day-to-day with a calf injury.
Game Details
This matchup marks the first of four regular season meetings between the Heat and Celtics. Last season, Boston had the upper hand, winning the series 3-1. Historically, Miami has struggled against Boston, with a record of 54-86 in regular season play, including a 30-42 record at home and 24-44 on the road.
Game Date and Time: Friday, Dec. 19, 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Sun (South Florida), NBC Sports Boston
Radio: WQAM 104.3 & The Heat Audio Experience, ESPN 106.3 FM, and various other local stations
Projected Starters
With key players missing, the Heat’s projected starting lineup features:
G Dru Smith
G Norman Powell
C Kel’el Ware
F Simone Fontecchio
F Bam Adebayo
On the other side, the Celtics will likely start:
G Payton Pritchard
G Derrick White
C Neeimas Queta
F Jaylen Brown
F Jordan Walsh
Betting Insights
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the betting lines for this game are as follows:
Spread: Heat +7.5 (-114), Celtics -7.5 (-106)
Moneyline: Heat +225, Celtics -280
Total Points: 230.5 (over -114, under -106)
Coach’s Perspective
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed his expectations for Kel’el Ware, highlighting the importance of his performance in pick-and-roll situations. “I want to see those numbers, the pick-and-rolls, when he’s involved, at a similar level as when Bam’s [Adebayo] involved. That’s a tall task, I get it, but he’s getting better; just have to continue to make those strides.”
As the Heat navigate these challenges, the matchup against the Celtics will be pivotal for both teams as they look to solidify their standings in the Eastern Conference.
