The Miami Heat bring their share of drama to San Antonio on Saturday night for an inter-conference matchup against the Spurs.
Miami kicks off a four-game road trip after suffering a 126-106 home loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. Terry Rozier and Tyler Herro each scored 22 points—Rozier coming off the bench and Herro hitting four 3-pointers—but their efforts couldn’t prevent the Heat from dropping their sixth game in the last nine. Bam Adebayo added 21 points in the defeat, where Miami never held a lead, allowed Cleveland to shoot 54% from the field, lost the rebounding battle 47-35, and was outscored by 30 points in the paint.
“We’ve got a bigger front line, and this has to be fixed,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said about his team’s rebounding struggles. “No excuses—we need to be more physical and intentional on the glass. Finishing possessions is critical, and we must improve collectively.”
Adding to Miami’s turbulence, Rozier has come under scrutiny in a federal sports gambling investigation tied to suspicious bets on his stats from March 2023, when he was with the Charlotte Hornets. While Rozier hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing, he declined to comment, citing legal advice. He’s expected to play against the Spurs.
The Heat’s off-court issues also include the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Butler after he walked out of practice on Monday amid ongoing trade demands. Miami continues to search for stability amidst the chaos.
San Antonio, meanwhile, will be playing the second game of a home back-to-back after an emphatic 144-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Victor Wembanyama led the charge with 30 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Spurs pull away in the fourth quarter—an area where they’ve struggled recently.
“(Wembanyama) was fantastic, matching the energy, physicality, and competitiveness we knew he’d face against Giannis (Antetokounmpo),” said Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson.
Keldon Johnson added 24 points, with Stephon Castle scoring 20 and Harrison Barnes contributing 16. The Spurs set a franchise record with 24 made 3-pointers, accounting for half their points.
“They gave us some of those looks,” Johnson said of the hot shooting. “But our passing was outstanding—finding the right guy at the right time in the right spot.”
