Miami Heat @ Charlotte Hornets Game Preview

Injury Report

Hornets: OUT LaMelo Ball (R Ankle Sprain), Cody Martin (L Knee), Frank Ntilikina (L Tibia Fracture), Amari Bailey (G-League) Doubtful: Mark Williams (Lower Back Contusion), Nick Smith (Ankle Sprain)

Heat: OUT Bam Adebayo (Hip), Haywood Highsmith (Back), Tyler Herro (Ankle Sprain), RJ Hampton (G-League), Nikola Jovic (G-League)

Despite it only being early December, this Hornets season feels like many others. Winning enough games not to be a laughingstock but not enough to be relevant in the playoff conversation. Injuries have played their part, but reading between the lines it’s clear they aren’t a valid excuse for Charlotte’s porous defense. Still, this team has won just about enough games since LaMelo Ball went down (2-3) to not be totally out of the play-in conversation, and that’s about as good as anyone can hope for.

Miami who are 2-3 over their last five games enter Monday’s matchup after having already defeated Charlotte this season 111-105 behind Butler’s 32 points and Bam Adebayo’s 21 point 11 rebound performance. Charlotte at the time had LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams but were missing Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges, how does that balance out talent wise? I’m not sure. The good news for the Hornets is Miami are missing key contributors too, with Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Haywood Highsmith all missing out through injury. Tell me who isn’t excited for a Nick Richards vs Orlando Robinson head to head battle? Keep an eye on a resurgent Duncan Robinson who's gone from out of the rotation last year to now having a career best season.

Key Match-up: Brandon Miller vs Jaime Jaquez

Tonight’s match-up between these two outstanding rookies is likely a battle for 3rd place in Rookie of The Year with Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama being locked to finish in the top two. Jaquez, who won the November rookie of the month for the Eastern Conference ahead of Brandon Miller, has been outstanding off the bench for the Heat. Although Miller has been better statistically, the NBA adores and underdog story. A 4 year senior out of UCLA who was drafted later in the 1st round emerging as a key rotation piece for a playoff time is NBA media catnip. Although head to head match-ups been very little in rookie of the year voting, Miller has a chance to put down a marker.

Miami Heat	Charlotte Hornets
PG	Kyle Lowry	Terry Rozier
SG	Duncan Robinson	Brandon Miller
SF	Jimmy Butler	Gordon Hayward
PF	Caleb Martin	Miles Bridges
C	Orlando Robinson	Nick Richards

X - @SI_Hornets and James Plowright