Game time: 2 p.m., Capital One Arena, Washington D.C. 

TV: FanDuel Sports Network 

Betting line: Heat -10.5

VITALS:  

The Heat and Wizards meet for the first of four regular season matchups. It also marks as the third-latest into a season the two teams will face each other for the first time. Last season, Miami won the series, 3-1. The HEAT are 100-48 all-time versus Washington during the regular season, including 55-19 in home games and 45-29 in road games. Miami Assistant Coach Caron Butler played four-plus seasons in Washington (2005-10) where he made his two All-Star appearances and most recently served as a Wizards analyst with NBC Sports Washington. Wizards forward Justin Champagnie spent the 2023-24 preseason with the Heat prior to being waived and then appearing in 34 games for the Heat's G League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he averaged 22.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Wizards rookie forward Will Riley and Heat rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis shared the court last year (2024-25) at Illinois where they teamed up to lead the Illini to a 22-13

record and a Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament

PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

F Jaime Jaquez

F Andrew Wiggins

C Bam Adebayo 

G Norman Powell 

G Davion Mitchell

WIZARDS

F Justin Champagnie 

F Will Riley 

C Tristan Vukcevic

G Jamir Watkins

G Bub Carrington 

INJUY REPORT

HEAT

Tyler Herro: Out (ribs)

Terry Rozier: Out (Not with team)

Keshad Johnson: Out (G League)

Vladislav Goldin: Out (G League)

Pelle Larsson: Out (Elbow)

WIZARDS

Dante Exum: Out (Not with team)

Kyshawn George: Questionable (Knee)

Anthony Gill: Questionable (Hand)

Jaden Hardy: Out (Rest)

Tre Johnson: Out (Ankle)

D'Angelo Russell: Out (Not with team)

Alex Sarr: Questionable (Ankle)

Tristan Vukcevic: Questionable (Knee)

Cam Whitmore: Out (Shoulder)

Trae Young: Out (Knee)

QUOTABLE 

Washington Wizards coach Brian Keefe on rookie Will Riley's progression: “I think that's prepared him for the moments that he's shown lately. And he's been in the rotation here for probably good month stretch. Guy [who] can kind of score at three levels, make threes, get into the mid range and use his pivoting which is really unique with his footwork. And then guys capable of making plays for others with his processing ability.”

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com