Preview: Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center

The Miami Heat will host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, in a matchup that draws attention for the contrasting form of the two teams this season. The Cavaliers, showing strong performance, face a Heat team still searching for consistency.

Projected starting lineups:

• Heat: Davion Mitchell (G), Tyler Herro (G), Andrew Wiggins (F), Bam Adebayo (F), Kel’el Ware (C)

• Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell (G), Darius Garland (G), Evan Mobley (F), Max Strus (F), Jarrett Allen (C)

Injury notes: Terry Rozier (Heat) is out with an ankle injury, Kevin Love (Heat) is unavailable due to personal reasons, and Darius Garland (Cavaliers) is listed as questionable with a toe issue.

Matchup outlook: Cleveland enters as the stronger team, with elite two-way efficiency and confidence from prior wins over Miami. The Cavaliers’ perimeter duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland can generate offense and create pressure on the Heat’s defense, while the frontcourt pairing of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley presents a formidable presence inside. Miami will rely on Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro to elevate their play and generate scoring opportunities. Home-court energy may help the Heat, but recent postseason trends show Miami has struggled even at Kaseya Center.

Key x-factors: the Cavaliers’ backcourt orchestrating offense, Miami’s frontcourt battling Cleveland’s interior defense, and the Heat’s ability to control tempo and maintain confidence.

Prediction: Cleveland is favored to control the game, but the Heat could make it competitive if they improve defensive rotations and generate secondary scoring. Momentum and psychological edge lie with the Cavaliers, making this a tough test for Miami at home.

This game will be a key indicator of both teams’ playoff readiness, with Kaseya Center set to witness a high-stakes clash of contrasting styles and team chemistry.