The Houston Rockets vs. Miami Heat game will be played at Toyota Center on Sunday, December 29th, 2024, at 7:00 PM ET. The Rockets are having a strong season, sitting third in the Western Conference with a 21-10 record. After losing 96-111 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup Semifinals, they bounced back with four straight wins. However, their streak ended with a close 112-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their most recent game.
The Heat are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 15-13 record. They’ve won their last two games, defeating the Nets 110-95 and narrowly beating the Magic 89-88. In their all-time series, the Rockets and Heat have faced off 74 times, with Miami holding a 41-33 advantage over Houston.
Houston Rockets vs. Miami Heat: Prediction
The Rockets have been strong defensively this season, allowing just 106.7 points per game, ranking third in the league. On offense, they score 113.4 points per game, placing them 12th overall. They’re also the best in the league at rebounding, grabbing 49.7 boards per game. However, they struggle with three-point shooting, ranking 25th in the NBA with 11.9 made threes per game and a 32.7% shooting percentage from deep.
The Heat, meanwhile, are averaging 111.3 points per game (18th) and allowing 108.6 points (6th). They pull down 43.3 rebounds per game but give up 45.2, ranking them near the bottom of the league. Miami has been much better from beyond the arc, making 14.6 threes per game at a 37.8% clip, which places them 9th and 6th in the NBA, respectively.
Houston Rockets vs. Miami Heat: Probable Starting Lineups
Here are the expected lineups for both teams.
Houston Rockets
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- PG Fred VanVleet
- SG Jalen Green
- SF Amen Thompson
- PF Jabari Smith Jr.
- C Alperen Sengun
Miami Heat
- PG Tyler Herro
- SG Duncan Robinson
- SF Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- PF Haywood Highsmith
- C Bam Adebayo
Houston Rockets vs. Miami Heat: Injuries Update
Dillon Brooks is questionable for the Rockets with an ankle injury, and Tari Eason is also questionable due to rest. On the other hand, Dru Smith of the Heat is out for the season with an Achilles injury, while Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Terry Rozier (knee) are both questionable. Josh Richardson is out with a heel injury, and Jimmy Butler is out due to illness.
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams’ Head Coaches From WORST To FIRST For The 2024-25 Season
