The Miami Heat head into Sunday’s matinee matchup against the Washington Wizards a bit shorthanded - and that’s putting it mildly. Guard Pelle Larsson is officially out with an elbow injury, adding to a growing list of unavailable players for Miami as they open their four-game regular season series with Washington.
Let’s take a look at the full injury report for both sides:
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro: Out (ribs)
- Terry Rozier: Out (not with team)
- Keshad Johnson: Out (G League)
- Vladislav Goldin: Out (G League)
- Pelle Larsson: Out (elbow)
Washington Wizards:
- Dante Exum: Out (not with team)
- Kyshawn George: Questionable (knee)
- Anthony Gill: Questionable (hand)
- Jaden Hardy: Out (rest)
- Tre Johnson: Out (ankle)
- D’Angelo Russell: Out (not with team)
- Alex Sarr: Questionable (ankle)
- Tristan Vukcevic: Questionable (knee)
- Cam Whitmore: Out (shoulder)
- Trae Young: Out (knee)
So yeah, if you're tuning in expecting a full-strength showdown, you’ll want to adjust those expectations. But even with both teams battling injuries and absences, there’s still plenty of intrigue in this Eastern Conference clash.
Game Details:
- Tip-off: 2 p.m.
ET
- Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network
- Betting Line: Heat -10.5
This marks the first of four meetings between the Heat and Wizards this season - and interestingly, it’s one of the latest first encounters between these two teams in a season in franchise history. Miami dominated the series last year, winning three of four, and historically, they’ve had Washington’s number. The Heat are 100-48 all-time against the Wizards in the regular season, including a commanding 45-29 record on the road.
A few storylines to keep an eye on:
- Caron Butler’s Homecoming (Sort Of): Miami assistant coach Caron Butler spent over four seasons in Washington as a player, earning two All-Star nods during that stretch. He also served as a Wizards analyst before joining the Heat’s bench. Safe to say, he knows this building well.
- Justin Champagnie’s Familiar Turf: Wizards forward Justin Champagnie had a preseason stint with Miami in 2023-24 and spent significant time with the Heat’s G League affiliate, Sioux Falls Skyforce. He made the most of it, averaging 22.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 steals in 34 games - numbers that earned him a shot in Washington.
- College Reunion on the Court: Heat rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis and Wizards rookie forward Will Riley were teammates last season at Illinois, where they helped lead the Illini to a 22-13 record and a Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Now, they find themselves on opposite sides of the NBA floor, but the chemistry and familiarity from their college days could add a fun wrinkle to today’s game.
Projected Starters:
Miami Heat:
- F Jaime Jaquez
- F Andrew Wiggins
- C Bam Adebayo
- G Norman Powell
- G Davion Mitchell
Washington Wizards:
- F Justin Champagnie
- F Will Riley
- C Tristan Vukcevic
- G Jamir Watkins
- G Bub Carrington
Of course, those lineups could shift depending on final injury designations closer to tip-off, especially with several Wizards listed as questionable.
One to Watch: Will Riley
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe had high praise for Riley’s recent play, noting the rookie’s ability to score at all three levels and his advanced footwork in the midrange. “He’s been in the rotation here for probably a good month stretch,” Keefe said.
“Guy who can kind of score at three levels, make threes, get into the midrange and use his pivoting which is really unique with his footwork. And then [he’s] capable of making plays for others with his processing ability.”
That’s high-level stuff for a young player still finding his NBA footing - and it’s exactly the kind of development the Wizards are hoping to see more of as they continue to build around their young core.
Bottom Line:
Injuries may have reshaped the rosters for this one, but there’s still plenty of competitive fire - and storylines - to keep an eye on. The Heat are looking to maintain their dominance over Washington, while the Wizards are hoping their young talent can rise to the occasion.
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. in D.C. Let’s see who steps up.