Overview
- Miami has dropped eight of nine to fall to 15-15, including a 112-91 home loss to Toronto on Dec. 23 that left Spoelstra searching for answers.
- Bam Adebayo was added to the injury report with lower-back soreness and downgraded to doubtful for Friday’s game in Atlanta.
- Adebayo’s offense has sagged to career-worst shooting marks this season, with multiple single-digit scoring nights in December that he acknowledged have been frustrating.
- Team metrics show Miami’s defense deteriorates without Adebayo, with a higher defensive rating and 126.6 points per game allowed in contests he has missed.
- Tyler Herro remains out with a toe contusion, while Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic were cleared to return for the Hawks game as Miami looks to stabilize its rotation.