Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat Injury Report and Game Preview

One night after a 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors, the Los Angeles Lakers are back at crypto.com Arena on Monday night to host the Miami Heat.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. Pacific, and it is the first of two meetings this season.

The Lakers are 5-2 and sit first in the Pacific Division, but this is a tough spot on the schedule because Miami did not play on Sunday, and the Heat will have fresher legs than a Lakers group that just played 48 hard minutes against Toronto.

The Lakers got good news on the injury front ahead of Monday's game.

Forward Ziaire Williams, who missed Sunday's game with left foot and heel injury management, is back tonight, and everyone else outside of forward Adou Thiero is good to go on the second night of the back-to-back.

Thiero remains out with left knee injury management, and ESPN's injury tracker projects a Nov. 9 return for him.

Center Walker Kessler was listed as available with a left finger splint on Sunday, and he went 6-for-6 from the field for 16 points with 15 rebounds and three blocks against Toronto.

Guard Luka Doncic stole the show with 45 points with 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

That was his third game of 40 or more points in his last four, according to ESPN, and he leads the NBA at 37.7 points per game.

Doncic also drew three charges, and his head coach was quick to praise that defense after the game.

Kessler saw it up close, and after the game he said his teammate is not getting the respect he deserves on that end, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

"Luka doesn't get enough credit for his defense," Kessler said.

Miami listed guard Tim Hardaway Jr. as questionable for personal reasons.

Guard Tre Donaldson and center Vladislav Goldin are out on G League two-way assignments.

The Heat are 2-4 after starting the year 0-4, but they have won two straight.

Their last game was a 145-125 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday, when forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.

Center Bam Adebayo added 27 points, and guard Klay Thompson made seven 3-pointers on his way to 25 points.

The Lakers turned the ball over 24 times against Toronto and still won, but that will not fly against a Miami team that can score 145 points on a good night.

Doncic had seven of those turnovers by himself, and that number has to come down if the Lakers want to avoid another night like their loss in San Francisco.

Kessler has a big job too, since Antetokounmpo and Adebayo are a strong pair inside and his rebounding and rim protection will decide a lot of possessions.

I still like the Lakers at home, even on short rest, because their best players through the first few games have carried them to a strong start, and a home win here would set them up well before a trip to Sacramento on Wednesday.