It is not often you see a coach of Erik Spoelstra’s caliber make terrible mistakes, especially at a crucial point in the game. But it happened. That, too, against a team no one wants to lose to, particularly after fighting back from an 18-point deficit! I am talking about none other than the Miami Heat’s first NBA Cup matchup against the 10th-seeded Detroit Pistons.

A matchup Spo and his boys lost spectacularly after carrying it overtime. Despite Jimmy Butler‘s absence, the Heat remained confident against the Pistons, even as Detroit’s strong start pushed them to respond. With just over a second left and the game tied, Erik Spoelstra called a crucial timeout—only to realize Miami had none left. The misstep resulted in a technical foul following Jalen Duren’s alley-oop, giving the Pistons the edge.

Malik Beasley calmly sank the free throw, tying the game and forcing what seemed like an inevitable second OT. Spoelstra’s quick decision backfired at the worst moment, but he owned the costly error.

“I made a serious mental error. That’s on me. I feel horrible about it. There’s no excuse for that. I’m 17 years in … I made a horrendous mistake,” he said, the disappointment clear in his words.

The ‘Vice City’ had just come off a dominant win against Anthony Edwards & Co. after a three-game losing streak when the Pistons happened. However, they have another chance to get back to winning ways as they face the Pacers for the second NBA Cup matchup. The Heat has just one player – Jimmy Butler – on the injury report, listed as ‘Out’ due to an ankle injury.

Indiana, for its part, has a rather long list of names with lengthy return timelines. James Wiseman has been sidelined since late October after tearing his left Achilles tendon against the Pistons the previous night. Isaiah Jackson, too, suffered the same fate, but on his right Achilles tendon and against the Pelicans. The backup center behind Myles Turner, Jackson, sustained the injury on his way to contest a shot by Brandon Ingram.

The Pacers have two more names – Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith. Rick Carlisle, via Tony East of SI.com, said the former will be out for two weeks due to a knee injury. The latter, though, will be out until December, Coach Carlisle updated. Nesmith, too, suffered a non-contact left ankle sprain against New Orleans.

The Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers depth chart

The Miami Heat could face a challenging matchup against the Indiana Pacers, given both teams’ recent performances and key player absences. Butler’s absence undoubtedly places additional pressure on Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo to lead the offense. Herro, to his credit, has been a blessing, scoring close to 25 points a game.

However, not having Playoff Jimmy’s playmaking and defensive contributions could impact Miami’s overall resilience and balance against Indiana’s fast-paced, high-scoring style. On that note, let’s take a look at the Miami Heat’s depth chart.

While Miami has talented players and a cohesive system, Indiana’s scoring capability and current momentum might give them a slight advantage in this matchup, especially with Butler sidelined. In a matchup where depth and adaptability are tested, Miami will need a strong, unified performance to counter Indiana’s offensive pace and take advantage of the Pacers’ injury challenges.

Stay tuned for the Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Field House.