NBA Matchups: November 14

MIA @ NYK | BKN @ ORL | PHI @ DET | CHA @ MIL | SAC @ MIN | LAL @ NOP | LAC @ DAL | GSW @ SAS

Miami Heat at New York Knicks

Team Totals: Heat 116.5, Knicks 122

Injury Report: Jalen Brunson (O, ankle), Bam Adebayo (O, toe)

Heat projected starters: Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Kel’El Ware

Knicks projected starters: Deuce McBride, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson

Spo quotes: Said their turnovers really hurt them and the Cavs had their energy guys make an impact, said they also fouled too much and may have been a step slow due to that exhausting game on Monday, said teams have put their 5s on Jaime and Jaime is used to that by now, said Hunter really hurt them with cuts and Allen was killing them in the paint.

Brown quotes: Said the Magic “kicked our ass” on Wednesday, said they did not win the possession game, said they only had 11 sprays against the Magic, said Brunson rolled his ankle, said the team was too focused on the officials, said “we’re a no excuse team,” said if they’re not playing the right way then they are going to add guys to the rotation, said it is really important to push the pace to try to get some better matchups when they are on offense.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Knicks finally had a bad game against the Magic due to Orlando really clamping down on the 3-point volume. That shouldn’t be a problem today with Miami giving up the most C&S 3PAs in the NBA, but Miami is the league’s best halfcourt defense right now. They’re actually getting beat on the boards, and that could be a problem with Mitchell Robinson in the mix (Knicks are fifth in halfcourt ORB%). The Heat do defend the paint well besides the O boards, but it’ll come down to 3-point shooting. For the Heat on defense, it’s still the same story with a league-high 28.9 transition possessions per game, and they are creating distance in O pace at just 12.2 seconds (POR 13.3 in second). The Knicks do give up some paint points, but that should be neutralized with Mitch in the mix. Their transition defense is also terrible with the fifth-highest possessions allowed per game. Both of these teams should be able to play to their strengths on offense.

*Norman Powell gets the best spot here for the Heat, and he put up an easy 29 points in 32 minutes earlier this year. It should be Mikal Bridges set to guard him again, and the Knicks have really struggled at keeping downhill guys away from the rim. Norm’s minutes are back to being full, so he should have a chance to flirt with 30 points again.

*Andrew Wiggins gets the worst matchup with OG Anunoby on him again, and Wiggins managed just nine points in 31 minutes against the Knicks earlier this year. I feel pretty confident it’s OG on him again, so no thanks.

*Kel’El Ware might be in trouble here. The Knicks love to space the floor with 3-point shooting, and I would expect that he will have a very tight leash if the Knicks are hot scoring. The Knicks are also pushing up gap help more, which could force Erik Spoelstra to get better spacing out there. There’s a ceiling case, but I’m not into it. I’d even consider using Nikola Jovic in this spot here.

*Davion Mitchell dodged Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday, and he dodged Jalen Brunson here. Miami isn’t screening for him as much and they don’t hunt matchups, so they could have more offense go through him early. Still, Davion’s role isn’t as strong as expected since the Bam Adebayo injury, so I’m not too into it.