MIAMI, Fla. – Coming off a 115-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte (NC), the Miami Heat are still searching for the first win of the 2026-27 NBA Season, currently with a 0-3 record.

An opportunity presents itself on Monday night at the Kaseya Center against the Dallas Mavericks. After trading superstar Luka Doncic ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, the organization is searching for new life. The Mavericks travel to South Florida with a 1-2 record to start this season.

Here’s all the important information to know before the game:

Television Channel: WPLG Local 10 / NBA TV

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. E.T.

The Heat are -325 favorites to win; meanwhile, the Mavericks have odds of +260 to pull off an upset. The spread is at 8.5 and the over/under is at 239.5.

The Mavericks have ruled out the following players: Santi Aldama (Right Knee Surgery), Tarik Biberovic (Right Heel Bursitis), Dereck Lively II (Right Foot Surgery), and Naji Marshall (Illness).

Caleb Martin is listed as doubtful with a right thumb sprain and star forward Cooper Flagg is questionable with a left shoulder sprain, which was sustained against the Indiana Pacers last Friday. The former No. 1 pick did not play in Saturday’s 112-106 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Heat only have Pelle Larsson listed as available with a left finger sprain.

Mavericks:

- PG: Kyrie Irving

- SG: Max Christie

- SF: Zaccharie Risacher*

- PF: PJ Washington

- C: Daniel Gafford

*Assuming Flagg doesn’t play, but if available, the 19-year-old will start.

Heat:

- PG: Davion Mitchell

- SG: Klay Thompson

- SF: Andrew Wiggins

- PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo

- C: Bam Adebayo

The Heat have the third-best paint defense (38.7 paint points allowed) in the league to start the season, but the worst at guarding the perimeter (allowing 42 percent of made shots from behind the arc). The newly constructed roster has yet to play in sync. In the first two games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons, Antetokounmpo scored over 30 points; meanwhile, the supporting cast, including Adebayo, struggled to provide a sustainable boost. 

In the recent loss to the Hornets, it was the complete opposite.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra alluded to the Heat needing “inspiration,” which can be concerning three games into the season. However, they will have an opportunity to put all worries away on Monday night.

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