Eastern Conference rivals run it back for the second time in three nights on Thursday, as the Miami Heat host the Brooklyn Nets at the Kaseya Center.
The Nets (15–46, 14th East) have dropped nine straight games, punctuated by Tuesday’s 124–98 drubbing in Miami. The Heat (33–29, 8th East) coasted to their fifth win over their last seven outings, standing firm in a tightly contested playoff race.
Miami holds a 2–0 advantage in the regular-season series and now will go for the sweep on its home court.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Brooklyn Nets
- OUT: Egor Demin (Plantar Fascia), Drake Powell (G League Assignment)
Miami Heat
- OUT: Norman Powell (Groin), Nikola Jovic (Back), Simone Fontecchio (Groin), Keshad Johnson (G League Assignment), Terry Rozier (Not With Team)
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Miami enters as a hefty 13.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Brooklyn sits as a +550 underdog. The game’s total is set at 227.5 points.
Nets vs. Heat Preview
Brooklyn Nets Preview
Brooklyn is not a good basketball team — and that’s sugar coating it. The franchise finds itself in a state of perpetual freefall, with its struggles somehow compounding as the season progresses.
The Nets have won just five games in 2026, an NBA low, and are currently mired in a miserable nine-game slide — their longest of the season. Since the calendar flipped, Brooklyn is liable for the league’s worst offensive and net ratings.
The squad continued its downward spiral Tuesday night in Miami, where it shot just 38% from the field in a 26-point beatdown. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn’s offensive Obi-Wan Kenobi, remained trapped in his slump and scored just nine points on 17.6% shooting, including an 0-for-9 showing from downtown.
Miami Heat Preview
The last thing you want is for your offensive catalyst to hit the sidelines in the thick of a playoff race. Unfortunately for the Heat, that’s precisely what happened when All-Star guard Norman Powell suffered a groin strain on February 26.
Miami is just 6–7 without Powell this season, and it’ll attempt to hold strong while he nurses the injury. The squad has done a solid job so far, with back-to-back wins in his absence, rolling to a double-digit win over the formidable Rockets on Saturday before trouncing the Nets on Tuesday.
In the rematch, the Heat will once again lean on their daunting defense while playing through former All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro — each of whom dropped 20-plus points against Brooklyn earlier this week. Miami completely suffocated the Nets inside, with Adebayo and second-year seven-footer Kel’el Ware combining for 22 rebounds and 11 steals.
Nets vs. Heat Pick, Best Bet
Even without its top scorer, Miami is still a far more complete team than Brooklyn. After cruising to a 26-point victory just two days ago, another blowout feels like a formality.
