David Ramiland Wes Goldberg here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Heat podcast, with your daily Locked On Heat newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Heat and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Jaime Jaquez Sparks Miami to Win Over Utah
Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) protects the ball from Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) during the first quarter at Delta Center. | Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
The Heat squeaked out another win on their crucial road trip, taking down the Utah Jazz 97-92. It wasn’t pretty, but Miami’s getting it done without Jimmy Butler. Let’s break down the key takeaways:
• Jaime Jaquez is on fire: The kid’s having his best stretch of the season, dropping 20 points and going 3-of-5 from deep. He’s scored in double digits four straight games now.
• Clutch free throws: After missing some big ones against Sacramento, Jaquez iced this game with a pair of free throws in the final seconds. That’s growth, folks.
• The Kel’el Ware effect: This guy is like Calvin Johnson out there, catching everything thrown his way. His lob threat gives Miami a new dimension they haven’t had in years.
• Where’s the Ware-Bam lineup?: I’m shocked we didn’t see Spolestra roll out Ware and Bam Adebayo together against Utah’s big lineup. What’s holding Spo back?
• Terry Rozier’s struggles continue: I can’t figure out why Spo’s so committed to starting Rozier. The guy’s a foot away from being a good player, but he’s just not putting it together.
• Credit Cookie controversy: Dave’s handing out cookies like a dictator over here. Tyler Herro deserves more love for his clutch performance down the stretch.
Look, this Heat team is finding ways to win without Jimmy, but there are still some head-scratchers. Why isn’t Spo using his challenges? Why is he so loyal to Rozier in the starting lineup? These are the questions keeping Heat fans up at night.
The Jimmy Butler situation is looming large. All this talk about bringing him back? That’s just posturing from the Heat front office. They’re trying to create leverage for a potential trade. Don’t think they have us backed into a corner with that February 6th deadline.
Main points:
• Jaime Jaquez, Jr. is breaking out, providing a much-needed spark
• Kel’el Ware’s lob threat gives Miami a new offensive weapon
• Spo’s rotations and lineup choices remain questionable
• The Terry Rozier experiment isn’t working out as planned
• Miami’s winning without Jimmy, but his trade situation hangs over everything
The Heat are grinding out wins on this road trip, but there are still plenty of questions to answer. Can they keep this momentum going? Will we see some lineup changes? And what’s the endgame with Jimmy Butler? Stay tuned, Heat fans. This season’s about to get real interesting.
Jan 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after making a three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Intuit Dome. | Kiyoshi Mio/Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Kawhi Leonard left the Clippers behind in Denver on Wednesday, he travelled solo back to Los Angeles to meet his family as they evacuated their home in the Pacific Palisades. As of Thursday, the Palisades Fire — the biggest of the five separate fires burning in L.A. — has scorched through close to 20,000 acres of land, homes, buildings and infrastructure. Leonard’s family and their home are safe, and because natural disasters thankfully still trump the audience demand for athlete participation, Leonard’s also able to be away from the team and focus on what’s most important.
Not to draw too flimsy a point between disaster and basketball, but Leonard’s return to the Clippers had been top of mind for me prior to the fires, and his necessary absence now offers another lens to view his prolonged absence this season.
After he was pulled from Team USA’s Olympic play this summer, Leonard underwent a surgical procedure on his right knee. It’s same knee he had surgically repaired after an ACL tear in 2021 and a meniscus tear in April 2023, as well as the quad injury that eventually led to him parting ways with the Spurs over concerns of recovery mismanagement.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis First-round pick Nikola Jović is making the most of his minutes while Jimmy Butler serves a suspension. Jović's performance has caught attention, showing his potential impact on the Miami Heat’s future. His growth is one to watch. (All U Can Heat)
Ranking The Miami Heat’s position in the NBA power rankings reveals their struggles as the trade deadline approaches. Their standing indicates areas for improvement. (Bleacher Report)
Rumor Pat Riley addresses critics who call him “washed” amid the Miami Heat’s challenges, sparking discussions about his future and the team’s direction. Riley’s response adds fuel to ongoing speculation. (Bleacher Report)
Must Read Steve Kerr and JJ Redick share the impact of the Los Angeles fires on their families’ lives. (ESPN)
Biz Aging NBA stars like Jimmy Butler may be in for a rude awakening. (Forbes)
Friday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Slate: Injury Updates and Streaming Options
Jan 8, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) drives against Washington Wizards forward Richaun Holmes (22) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The NBA action continues with seven games on tap for Friday, and there’s no shortage of intriguing storylines to follow. Let’s dive into the key matchups and player situations that fantasy managers need to keep an eye on.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Pelicans-Sixers matchup is plagued by absences on both sides. For New Orleans, Herb Jones (shoulder), Brandon Ingram, and Trey Murphy (ankle) are all sidelined. However, Zion Williamson is set to return after sitting out the previous game. The Sixers will continue to be without Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, and KJ Martin.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic
The Magic are on a back-to-back, while the Bucks are in a favorable schedule spot. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton are all listed as probable for Milwaukee. Orlando will be without Gary Harris, and Jalen Suggs is expected to remain sidelined. Paolo Banchero is reportedly set to return for this game.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Heat podcasts.
How Jaime Jaquez Jr. Fueled Miami’s Win Over Utah Jaime Jaquez Jr. continued the best stretch of his season and the Miami Heat won their second straight game Thursday night against the Utah Jazz. Wes Goldberg and David Ramil ask if this is a turning point for Jaquez this season, hand out Credit Cookies and discuss why Erik Spoelstra is keeping Terry Rozier in the starting lineup.
Bradley Beal Holds the Cards to Trading Jimmy Butler Dive into the latest buzz surrounding the Miami Heat as trade rumors swirl around star player Jimmy Butler. With the NBA landscape ever-evolving, the potential impact of Bradley Beal’s situation and Kevin Love’s influence are hot topics. Hosts Wes Goldberg and David Ramill provide an in-depth analysis of these developments, exploring the complexities of NBA contracts and player loyalty.
How Does Miami Move On After Jimmy Butler’s Trade Request? Can the Miami Heat overcome the turmoil of Jimmy Butler’s trade request? Dive into the latest buzz surrounding the Miami Heat as they navigate a challenging season in the NBA. With star player Jimmy Butler’s trade request shaking up the team dynamics, hosts Wes Goldberg and David Ramil explore the implications for the Heat’s future.
