LA Lakers vs Miami Heat: Injury Updates, Team News, Match Preview and Predictions

Match Details- LA Lakers vs Miami Heat

Date and Time- Friday, December 13, 2019, at 7:05 P.M. ET (12.05 A.M. GMT)

Venue- American Airlines Arena, Miami

Preview-

After defeating the Orlando Magic on the road, LA Lakers will shift their concentration to the Heat on Friday. Miami has a strong defense which holds the opponents to a mere 43.7 field goal percentage. It will be intriguing to watch if that dominance can hold up against the Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Although the Lakers might have to play without Kyle Kuzma and Rajon Rondo for the match against Miami. Rondo’s loss would affect the team more in values to defensive support he provides. Yet, they will be examined against a Heat offense that has surpassed lots of expectations this season. They sit in fourth with a 47.5 average field goal shooting percentage.

The Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra possibly spent all of his time post-Thursday night trying to figure it out. Unfortunately, he would have to realize that it is impossible. There is no stopping the offensive duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Heat presently has the eighth-ranked defense in a season. They are maintaining opponents to 103.1 points per game at their home court. They will need all bits of that defensive tenacity in quieting down a Lakers offense which is commenced by two players averaging 25-plus points per game.

Injury Updates and Team News-

Miami Heat-

Injuries- Justise Winslow(Back), Goran Dragic(Groin)

Expected starting lineup- Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard, Duncan Robinson, and Kendrick Nunn

LA Lakers-

Injuries- Kyle Kuzma(Doubtful), DeMarcus Cousins(Knee)

Expected starting lineup- LeBron James, Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Danny Green

Predictions-

The duo of James and Davis is too strong for any magical force brought on by Miami Heat. Furthermore, that magic seems to be decaying after a pair of close run-ins with the Hawks as well as the Bulls. The loss of Dragic and Winslow takes away a sizable part of the Heat’s offense to battle the star-studded Lakers. In fact, they are equating 118.0 points per game at home when they are fit. Although, that figure is sure to drop when they face one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. The LA Lakers vs Miami Heat would possibly be won by the Lakers as it ends the Heat’s unbeaten streak at home.