Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks: Injury Updates, Team News, Match Preview, and Predictions

Match Details- Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks

Date and Time– Saturday, December 14, 2019, at 8:35 P.M. EST (1:35 A.M. GMT)

Venue– American Airlines Center, Dallas

Preview-

The Heat have been dominating their contests against the Mavericks. They have won their last four games versus Dallas. This time out they will be there to pick up their fifth back-to-back win in the series. If they win, it would mark their third road win in their last four road games. Miami has played quite well offensively. The team is averaging 112 points per game and shooting 47 percent from the field.

Jimmy Butler guides the way for the Heat by averaging 20.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and seven assists per game. Another player who has picked up the pace for the Heat is Kendrick Nunn. He is scoring 16.2 points and getting 3.4 assists per game, while Bam Adebayo is averaging 15.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Defensively, Miami has been holding opponents to 106.2 points per game. 

On the other hand, the Mavericks are on a hot streak right now. They have succeeded to bounce back from their loss to the Sacramento Kings with a win over the Detroit Pistons in their last game. This gave them six victories in their last seven games. Dallas is one of the most immeasurable offensive teams in the NBA right now. They have been averaging 118.1 points per game, shooting 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range.

They ended up with 122 points against the Pistons and will require another huge offensive game to beat Miami on Saturday. Their star player, Luka Doncic commenced the way for the Mavericks with 41 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Seth Curry finished with 30 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. The Center Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks for the Mavericks.

Injury Updates and Team News-

Miami Heat-

Injuries- Justice Winslow(Back), Goran Dragic(Groin)

Expected starting lineup- Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Meyers Leonard, Kendrick Nunn, and Duncan Robinson

Dallas Mavericks-

Injuries- Delon Wright(Doubtful)

Expected starting lineup- Kristaps Porzingis, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Luka Doncic

Predictions-

Dallas Mavericks have been holding the opponents to 108.4 points per game. This would help them hold the Heat who are allowing 112 points per game. The game will be played at the Mavericks’ home court. This means that Heat will be on the road again and their record away from home has not been good. In fact, all 6 losses have come on the road for Miami Heat. The Mavericks have done better than Miami when it comes to rebounding as well, with 47.9 compared to Heat’s 45.5 rebounds. It feels like the match between Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat will be won by the Dallas Mavericks, especially with the home-court advantage.