The Heat are 2-4 and the 10th seed after beating Atlanta and Indiana, and all four games this week are away from Kaseya Center. They also have a healthy roster for the first time in weeks, so there is nothing to blame but effort.
Four Games Away
Miami opens Monday, November 2 at the Lakers, then goes to the Clippers on Wednesday, November 4 and the Warriors on Thursday, November 5 on NBA TV. The trip ends Sunday, November 8 at Sacramento. The Heat played four games in the past week, and they get two full days off before the Lakers. Use them. A 2-4 team gets no credit for the 145-125 win over Indiana.
Golden State Matters Most
The Warriors game is the one to circle. It comes the night after the Clippers, the only back-to-back of the week, and it is the one national TV game. Under Erik Spoelstra this program says conditioning is the standard, and the second night of a back-to-back is where that gets checked. Giannis Antetokounmpo played 31 minutes against Indiana and Davion Mitchell 35. Those minutes have to be managed in Los Angeles so there is something left for the Warriors.
Close the Gaps
The win over Indiana hid two problems. Miami gave up 42 points in the opening quarter to a team missing Tyrese Haliburton and five others. The starters scored 110 and the bench scored 28, with Bobby Portis Jr. at minus-11 in 17 minutes. Pelle Larsson went 5 of 5 and still finished at minus-3. Four Western teams on their own floors will not hand back a 25-point lead the way Indiana did.
Nobody Is Out
The Heat have no injuries listed. Simone Fontecchio was cleared on October 30 after an illness, and his true shooting over his last 10 games is 70.8 percent, from a small sample. Klay Thompson made 7 of 12 threes against Indiana. Bam Adebayo went 11 of 14 for 27 points. Spoelstra has his full rotation, so every loss this week is on the players and the plan.
Bottom Line
Miami is one game back of the sixth-seeded Hawks at 3-3, and at its current win rate it finishes 27-55. Two wins on this trip keeps the climb going. Going 0-4 would wipe out the last two games. The roster is healthy and well rested before Monday, so the results should show it.
When do the Heat play the Warriors this week and is it on TV?
Miami plays at Golden State on Thursday, November 5, and the game is on NBA TV. It is the second night of a back-to-back after Wednesday's game at the Clippers.
Do the Heat have any injuries heading into the road trip?
No, the Heat have no players listed as injured. Simone Fontecchio was cleared on October 30 after an illness.
