Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat – Game #41
Stephon Castle looks to stay hot in Miami (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs will reach the halfway point of the season today when they play a road game against the Miami Heat. Both the Spurs (19-21) and the Heat (20-20) will be playing their 41st game of the 2024-25 NBA regular season.
After a pair of loss versus the Memphis Grizzlies in San Antonio, the Spurs find themselves two games below .500 for the first time since early November. In their last six games, the Silver and Black have a record of 1-5.
Following today’s affair, the Spurs head to Paris to take on the Indiana Pacers in a pair of games. The first one will be on Thursday and the second one will be on Saturday.
The Heat have been streaky lately. In their last 11 games, they had a two-game winning streak, a three-game losing streak, a three-game winning streak and are now on a three-game losing streak. Their latest three losses were to the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
On the season, the Heat have been led by the much improved play by Tyler Herro. The 24-year-old is averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists, while shooting 47.7% from the field, 40.6% from three-point range and 86.4% from the free throw line.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
Jeremy Sochan will miss another game today when the Spurs take on the Heat. The Spurs have clarified what Sochan has been dealing with: a lumbar spine bone bruise. While that sounds scary, the good news is that Sochan is expected to return soon. In fact, there are rumblings that the team’s starting power forward could be back when the Spurs play in Paris on Thursday.
San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
With Sochan out, expect interim head coach Mitch Johnson to keep the same starting five of Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Chris Paul and Stephon Castle.
In his last three games, which have all featured the rookie in the starting lineup, Castle is averaging 23.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while hitting 54.2% of his shots from the field.
Betting Guide: Spurs at Heat
The Heat are favored by 3.5 points and the over/under is at 220 points. The smart money is on the over. San Antonio’s defense has looked weaker without the services of Sochan. Offensively, Victor Wembanyama is due for a breakout performance. Add it up and the Spurs and Heat should combine for more than 220 points.