Miami Heat vs. Utah Jazz Preview
In an upcoming non-conference battle, the Miami Heat (28-26) will host the struggling Utah Jazz (16-37) on Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. EST. This matchup is notable as the Heat sit in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, currently in eighth place, while the Jazz find themselves at the bottom, positioned at 13th in the Western Conference.
Game Odds and Team Performance
At the BETMGM sportsbook, the line favors the Heat by 8.5 points with a total points over/under set at 244.5. The Heat have a solid track record at home, having secured 16 wins against 10 losses, whereas the Jazz have struggled significantly on the road, recording a mere 6 victories out of 26 attempts.
Previous Encounter
The last encounter between these two teams took place on January 25, where Miami emerged victorious with a commanding score of 147-116. In that game, Bam Adebayo was a standout performer for the Heat, scoring 26 points, while Brice Sensabaugh led the Jazz with 23 points.
Current Team Statistics
Currently, the Heat are notable for their impressive passing game, averaging 28.7 assists per outing, which is fourth best in the East. In contrast, the Jazz are averaging 126.7 points against them per game but manage to score 119.7 points on average, highlighting a significant offensive struggle in recent games. Miami’s Adebayo contributes heavily with 18.2 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game. Utah’s Jaren Jackson Jr. leads his team with an average of 19.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Recent Performance
Over their last 10 games, the Heat have maintained a balanced output, averaging 120.3 points along with substantial contributions in rebounds (51.6) and assists (29.1), while shooting 45.3% from the floor. Meanwhile, the Jazz find themselves with a disappointing 2-8 record over the same stretch, struggling defensively as opponents score an average of 122.9 points against them.
Player Availability
In terms of player availability, the Heat will be without Tyler Herro (ribs), and Pelle Larsson (elbow), while Norman Powell is listed as day-to-day due to a back issue. The Jazz will miss Keyonte George (ankle) and Walker Kessler, who is out for the season due to a shoulder injury.
Looking Ahead
As this non-conference game approaches, Miami will look to solidify their playoff position while Utah aims to respond to their recent poor form and find some much-needed momentum heading into the latter part of the season.
