Remember when these two teams squared off on Monday for a tilt that was an instant classic? An overtime game that ended with an Andrew Wiggins alley-oop on an inbound with just 0.4 seconds on the clock? Well, let’s just say the vibes are a little different 48 hours later.
The Cavaliers, who will welcome the Raptors to Cleveland on Thursday, have decided to basically rest their entire starting lineup on Wednesday. So, that’s fun. Add in the absences of Tyler Herro (ankle) and Bam Adebayo (toe) for Miami, and you’re left with a contest in mid-November that has the vibes of a preseason matchup.
All that aside, let’s preview tonight’s game with the help of some of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Cavaliers vs. Heat prediction, preview
Alright. So who exactly has been ruled out for the Cavaliers? Well, on top of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, all listed as inactive due to rest purposes, Jaylon Tyson is also sidelined with a concussion. Tyson logged 31.1 minutes off the bench in Monday’s loss and grabbed nine rebounds in the process. Obviously, that will leave Cleveland extremely shorthanded for tonight’s tilt in Miami, especially when factoring in Lonzo Ball and his continued restrictions.
For some context, in the team’s 11 games this season, the Cavaliers have only logged under 70 offensive possessions without at least one of Mitchell, Garland and Mobley on the floor. In that limited sample, it’s been De’Andre Hunter who has taken on the burden of being the No. 1 scoring option, as the Virginia product has seen his usage rate skyrocket to a team-high 34.8% in this scenario. Rookie second-round pick Tyrese Proctor has a 25.8% usage rate with Cleveland’s star trio off the court, and the 21-year-old should find himself back in the Cavaliers’ rotation after a DNP-CD on Monday. Proctor has showcased a little bit of offensive upside in his limited time in the NBA, dropping 17 points in 18.7 minutes against the Wizards last Friday.
The Heat’s game plan is slightly less of a mystery, as the team has been without Herro for the entirety of 2025-26 and Adebayo for the past three games — all wins for Miami. In fact, the Heat have mustered an amazing 120.0 points per 100 possessions across this three-contest span, despite missing their two All-Star talents.
Norman Powell has taken center stage in the absence of his teammates, even registering a season-best 33 points in Monday’s overtime victory. Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have also flourished with extra usage, with the latter looking like an early candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. Jaquez is averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest off the bench, as he appears to be fully out of the “sophomore slump” that claimed his 2024-25 campaign. Remember, Jaquez finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023-24, when he was the 18th-overall pick out of UCLA.
Cavaliers vs. Heat pick, best bet
Best Bet: Heat -5.5 (-120)
Miami is 8-3 ATS this season and 5-0 ATS at home. The team has been thriving without it’s stars, while Cleveland should struggle to score without its own. The Heat are simply more experienced in these scenarios.
