Miami Heat-Sacramento Kings Preview: Can Short-Handed Heat Win Out West?

What to look for in Miami Heat’s Monday night game in Sacramento

The Miami Heat (31-25) continue their six-game road trip on Monday against the Sacramento Kings (33-23). Each team has won three straight.

Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jović and Thomas Bryant are unavailable due to suspension stemming from Friday night’s rumble with the New Orleans Pelicans. Starters Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier are questionable, and Josh Richardson is out with a shoulder injury.

Monday night is the second game of a back-to-back for the Kings. Sacramento blew out the Los Angeles Clippers 123-107 Sunday.

Previous Matchups

The Heat beat the Kings 115-106 in the first of two games this season.

Butler and Richardson led the charge in the Jan. 31 win in Miami with 31 and 24 points, respectively. Bam Adebayo supplied 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Kings were led by Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Sabonis posted an unreal stat line of 19 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists. Murray exploded for 33 points, drilling seven shots from three.

Opposing Players to Watch

Sacramento’s potent offense is led by former All-Stars Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox.

Sabonis averages 20.1 points, 13.2 rebounds (1st in NBA) and 8.4 assists (5th) while shooting 61.9 percent (9th). The 27-year-old totaled 17 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in last night’s win against the Clippers.

Despite struggling in their last meeting (4-16 from the field), Fox can erupt at any moment. The 6-foot-3 point guard is averaging 26.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 47.0 percent and 37.1 percent from three. Fox is also a disruptor on defense, averaging 1.9 steals (2nd in NBA).

The 26-year-old was dominant in last night’s win, tallying 33 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Key Matchup

Domantas Sabonis vs. Bam Adebayo

Adebayo scored 24 points on Friday night in New Orleans, including 12 in the fourth quarter. The 2024 All-Star stepped up when Butler was ejected less than a minute into the final frame.

With the Heat once again short-handed, the load is placed solely on Adebayo’s shoulders.

The Miami big man must not only lead the team on offense, but his defensive assignment is as tough as it gets.

The 6-foot-10 Sabonis is one of the most complete players in the NBA. He has a league-leading 20 triple-doubles this season, including five in his last six games.

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Nick Crandell is a staff contributor at Inside the Heat.

He can be reached at nick.crandell33@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @nickcrandell

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