It’s an interconference battle on the parquet floor as a pair of teams looking to get their footing take the floor in Bluff City. The Miami Heat are on the road as they make the trip up the east coast as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. Miami earned a 108-107 home win over the Lakers in their previous contest Monday night, though they failed to cover the line as a 1.5-point favorite. Memphis split a two-game road series with Portland as they picked up a 112-100 victory in their previous game Sunday, covering the line as a 3.5-point favorite. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Heat own a 29-24 advantage, including a 138-119 home victory in the most recent matchup on March 15, 2023.

Miami Heat Looking for Third Straight Win

Miami won their second straight game as they held off a fourth quarter charge by the Lakers to hang on for the home win Monday night. The Heat enter this game third in the Southeast Division with a 3-4 record, leaving them one game behind Atlanta and Orlando for the top spot. Against Los Angeles, Miami was even after the opening quarter, led by three at the half and by 11 after three quarters. The Heat led by nine with 3:50 to play but went scoreless the rest of the way. They hung on when the Lakers missed multiple open looks in the final minute of the game. Miami shot 46.6% from the field, including 12 of 37 from three-point range and forced 17 Lakers turnovers to offset allowing Los Angeles to shoot 54.3% from the floor. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 28 points and six assists in the victory.

The Heat enters this one 26^th in the league in scoring offense with 107.4 points per game this season. Miami is 19^th in the league in rebounding with 43.1 boards a contest while the team stands 14^th in assists by dishing out 26.3 dimes a night. The Heat stands 14^th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 111.3 points per game. Jimmy Butler is third on the team with 19 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. Tyler Herro kicks in a team-high 25.3 points plus 5.6 boards a night while Bam Adebayo chips in 21.5 points plus 9.3 rebounds per contest. Duncan Robinson (11.7 points), Kyle Lowry, Josh Richardson, Kevin Love, Thomas Bryant, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Haywood Highsmith are solid role players for the Heat. Miami is 21^st in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 45.5% from the floor this season. The Heat stands 13^th in threes per game by draining 12.4 triples per contest and the team is 9^th in three-point shooting by hitting 38% from beyond the arc.

Martin (knee) is out indefinitely with tendinitis. Nikola Jovic (illness) and RJ Hampton (illness) each missed Monday’s game and are considered questionable for this contest.

Memphis Grizzlies Trying to Pick Up Second Straight Win

Memphis snapped a season-opening six-game slide as they took down Portland on the road to earn a split of their two-game road set. The Grizzlies improved to 1-6 on the season and are in the basement of the Southwest Division, five games behind the Mavericks for the top spot in the division. Against Portland, Memphis trailed by two after the opening quarter, led by eight at the half and trailed by four after three quarters. The Grizzlies were down 12 with 8:13 remaining but closed the game on a 26-2 run, including a 17-0 run over the final 5:11, to earn the victory. Memphis shot 50.6% from the field, including 13 of 32 from three-point range, and held Portland to 38.9% shooting in the game. Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the win.

On the season, the Grizzlies are 24^th in the league in scoring offense as they average 108.3 points per game this season. Memphis is 15^th in the league in rebounding with 44.7 boards a night while the team is 16^th by dishing out an average of 25 assists a night. The Grizzlies are below average defensively as they are 20^th in the league by allowing an average of 115 points per contest. Desmond Bane leads the Grizzlies with 26.6 points, five rebounds and four assists per game. Jaren Jackson Jr. (21.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), Marcus Smart (14 points) and Ziaire Williams (10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds) each are averaging in double figures. David Roddy, Xavier Tillman, Derrick Rose, Santi Aldama, Luke Kennard, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Bismack Biyombo, Jake LaRavia, Vince Williams Jr. and John Konchar are all counted on for coach Taylor Jenkins’ rotation. Memphis stands 27^th in field goal percentage as they connect on 44.2% of their attempts from the floor on the season. The Grizzlies splash an average of 13.1 three-pointers a night, putting them 10^th in that category. Memphis is 25^th in three-point field goal percentage as they knock down 32.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc this season.

Memphis has their issues that has forced them to retool their rotation. Star point guard Ja Morant is serving a 25-game suspension that will keep him out of action until December 23. Steven Adams was lost for the season with a knee injury before the season began. Brandon Clarke is out indefinitely as he recovers from a torn Achilles: he last played on March 3, 2023. Rose (knee) last played on October 30 and is expected to be re-evaluated later this week. Konchar (hip) and Tillman (knee) each missed Sunday’s game and are considered day-to-day so keep an eye out for information about whether they will return here.