Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview
The Miami Heat, sitting at a record of 29 wins and 27 losses, will take on the Atlanta Hawks, who currently hold a 27-30 record, in an Eastern Conference showdown this Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST. The game will be hosted in Atlanta, with the Heat entering as 3.5-point favorites according to BetMGM Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points is set at 242.5.
Previous Encounters
This matchup marks the third meeting between the two teams this season, with Atlanta having emerged victorious in their last encounter, defeating the Heat 127-115 on February 4. In that game, Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with an impressive 29 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. was the standout for Miami with 21 points.
Team Performance
Currently, the Hawks have a mixed record of 14 wins and 20 losses against other teams in the Eastern Conference, with Jalen Johnson being a focal point for the team, averaging 23.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game.
On the fast-break front, Atlanta excels, scoring an average of 18.1 points from fast breaks, with Johnson contributing about 4.3 points alone. In contrast, the Heat are not far behind, averaging 17.8 fast break points per game, led by Norman Powell with 3.6 points.
Defensively, Miami allows an average of 45.8% shooting from their opponents, while the Hawks currently shoot 47.1% from the field. Offensively, the Heat have been slightly more potent, averaging 119.6 points per game, surpassing the 118.4 allowed by the Hawks.
Recent Form and Injuries
Both teams have shown some inconsistency over their last 10 games, with Atlanta posting a 5-5 record and averaging 116.6 points per game, while Miami has matched that record but has averaged slightly more at 118 points per game.
Injury updates reveal that Jonathan Kuminga is out for the Hawks due to knee issues. Meanwhile, the Heat have several players listed as day-to-day, including Tyler Herro (ribs), Keshad Johnson (calf), and Norman Powell (back) – a situation the Miami coaching staff will need to monitor closely leading into the game.
