Two playoff hopefuls in the Eastern Conference duke it out as the struggling Miami Heat will try to turn their fortunes around against the improving New York Knicks, 7:30 AM on NBA TV Philippines.
The Heat made a couple of key changes on their roster at the trade deadline but they will not be in full force when they visit New York.
Nemanja Bjelica will make his debut for the Heat after a trade that sent Moe Harkless and Chris Silva to the Sacramento Kings. In 26 games for the Kings this season, Bjelica averaged 7.2 points on a 46 percent shooting clip, while pulling down 3.8 rebounds in almost 17 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, two-time All-Star guard Victor Oladipo will have to wait for his first game due to a head cold. The Rockets sent Oladipo to Miami in exchange for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynk, and 2022 first-round swap rights. After the trade went down, Heat legend Dwayne Wade had nothing but praise for Oladipo.
@VicOladipo It feels right. Congrts my brotha 🤝
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) March 26, 2021
Veteran guard Goran Dragic, who missed the Heat’s last four games because of back spasms, will be probable for Tuesday, as well as Kendrick Nunn who sprained his right ankle.
The Heat will still pack a punch with Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler. The team has battled injuries and COVID-related issues all season long, and with a current six-game losing streak, they will have to find a way to improve their sliding 22-24 record.
On the other side, the Knicks, who are fourth in the East with a 24-22 card, have won three consecutive games. However, they are also short-handed after losing starting center Mitchell Robinson to a fractured foot he sustained in their 102-96 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Fresh from a previous right hand injury, Robinson was just playing in his fourth game back before getting another dent in his young career. He was posting 8.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals this season. It remains to be seen how long he will be out as the team has yet to re-evaluate him.
To add salt to the wound, the Knicks may be without Julius Randle (right thigh contusion) and Reggie Bullock (right ankle sprain) who are both questionable heading into their home game against the Heat.
Fortunately for the playoff-hungry Knicks, Derrick Rose is back in the fold. The former MVP, who had not played in nearly a month, returned to action after recovering from COVID-19. Rose logged in 29 minutes and produced 13 points and two steals in their win over the Bucks.
Both the Heat and the Knicks have been hit hard by injuries this season. Nonetheless, they remain in the thick of things in the tough playoff race in the East. Will the Heat have enough firepower to arrest their six-game slide or will the Knicks emerge victorious and keep their streak alive?
