Game Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat
On Tuesday night, the Atlanta Hawks, currently positioned 10th with a record of 24 wins and 27 losses in the Eastern Conference, will face off against the Miami Heat, who are holding the seventh spot with a record of 27 wins and 24 losses. This matchup is set to take place in Miami at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Team Performance
The Heat have had a mixed performance within their conference, with an even record of 14 wins and 14 losses against Eastern Conference teams. They are particularly strong in scoring from the paint, leading the conference with an impressive average of 54.7 points per game in that area, thanks in part to Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is contributing 10.5 points in the paint.
Conversely, the Hawks have struggled against conference opponents, managing a record of just 12 wins against 18 losses. Atlanta has also found it challenging against teams with winning records, posting a 12-19 record in those encounters. The statistics reveal that Atlanta averages 14.5 three-pointers made per game, while the Heat allow 13.2, making tonight’s shootout from beyond the arc worth watching.
Previous Encounter
This contest marks the second meeting between these two teams this season. The previous game on December 27 saw the Heat triumph with a score of 126-111, boosted by a standout performance from Norman Powell, who scored 25 points.
Key Players
Key players to keep an eye on include Andrew Wiggins for the Heat, who is currently shooting 46.8% from the field and averaging 15.6 points, along with Bam Adebayo, who has been on a roll, averaging 22.1 points over the past ten games. For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson stands out with averages of 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been averaging 19.4 points in his last ten games.
Recent Performances
In terms of recent performances, the Heat have gone 6-4 in their last ten games, scoring an average of 122.4 points and grabbing 51.2 rebounds per game, while shooting at a 44.3% efficiency rate. In comparison, the Hawks are 4-6 in their last ten outings with an average of 112.6 points and 42.9 rebounds, shooting slightly better at 44.7% but allowing 118.2 points to their opponents.
Injury Updates
As for recent injury updates, the Heat will be without Tyler Herro (toe), Nikola Jovic (hip), and Norman Powell (personal). The Hawks are dealing with Onyeka Okongwu (face) listed as day to day and Kristaps Porzingis (achilles), N’Faly Dante (knee), and Duop Reath (foot) all out for the season.
Conclusion
As both teams look to improve their standings, this game promises to be a critical encounter in the Eastern Conference race.
