The Heat are still trying to find their groove after a big shake-up from the recent trade. Facing a bottom Eastern team like the Wizards could be just the boost they need right now, especially with the advantage of a home game. However, with recent player updates raising some concerns, this game could easily swing either way.

Hours before the Kaseya Center lights up for the thrilling clash, the Heat dropped some updates on their crucial players. Kel’el Ware who has been suffering from a sprain in his right knee, will not be taking on the court tonight. The 7-footer has been ruled out for the fixture.

Meanwhile, there’s still no final word on Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Andrew Wiggins’ status. Both players are dealing with ankle injuries that kept them out of the previous game against the Knicks. This matchup could very well be a miss for the duo. For now, Jaquez is listed as doubtful, and Wiggins is questionable. The Heat will monitor their condition before announcing a final verdict.

Wiggins joined the Heat last month after the trade and has suited up in 6 games, averaging 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. So, his absence will undoubtedly be a significant blow to the team as was noticed in the last two games.  Jaime, on the other hand, has played 49 games averaging 9 points.

Apart from them, Dru Smith will miss tonight’s game due to an Achilles injury, and Nikola Jovic is sidelined with a hand injury. Amid the concerning injury list, leader Bam Adebayo has stepped up and made his voice heard to his Heat teammates ahead of the game.

Bam Adebayo shares strong message to Heat locker room

The back-to-back games could prove challenging for the Heat, who are bound to feel the fatigue. To make matters worse, they’re coming off a loss. So, Adebayo took the responsibility to deliver a stern message to motivate the squad.

Adebayo told the media, “We gotta be able to play 48 minutes of great basketball. We’re not a type of team to reply on offense to get the dub, we gotta get stops, we gotta do the harder things cause we’re not that type of team.” He emphasized that the Heat need to focus on defense, as relying solely on offense wouldn’t be enough for them to succeed.

The team is sitting at the seventh spot, which isn’t bad, but over the last ten games, the Heat have had a 3-7 record. That just shows their current situation. They need to ensure a win in this game, which isn’t too difficult, but nothing’s predictable. The tables can turn at any moment. So, tune in at 7:30 PM ET to see how the game unfolds!