MIAMI @ SACRAMENTO (SAC -7, 224)
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HEAT VS. KINGS 2/26/24
When the Miami Heat visit the Sacramento Kings tonight, they will have to do so without at least two of their most important players in an attempt to win four games in a row in a third different time zone. The NBA suspended five players, including Heat star Jimmy Butler, for an altercation that occurred during Friday's 106-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on the road.
Jose Alvarado of New Orleans and Thomas Bryant of Miami received the worst punishments for entering the fight off the bench. Each will miss three games. For Bryant, the Heat's seldom-used backup center, that means missing the final three games of the road trip. Miami will play in Portland and Denver following its matchup with the Kings, and then it will return home to play the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
In the meantime, Butler, Nikola Jovic of the Heat, and Naji Marshall of the Pelicans received one-game suspensions. Additionally, Butler and Jovic are not expected to play on Monday. The NBA stated that Butler and Marshall were fined for instigating and engaging in an on-court altercation.
The Heat defeated Milwaukee and Philadelphia prior to the All-Star break. Miami played without Butler in both of those games. The Miami star had personal reasons for missing those matches. In the win over New Orleans, Butler finished with 23 points. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra took issue with the league's decision to sanction Butler. Spoelstra said tha Butler got tangled up and there was some pushing. Butler missed the fourth quarter after being ejected, which Spoelstra felt was enough.
Tyler Herro, who had to leave the New Orleans game due to hyperextending his left knee, may also be out of the lineup for the Heat tonight. He was given a temporary "questionable" tag and had an MRI scheduled for Monday.
The only negative news for the Kings is that they may be a little worn out after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 123-107 on the road to start a back-to-back. Harrison Barnes took note of Domantas Sabonis' league-leading 20th triple-double of the season during the victory.
Similar to the Heat, Sacramento will attempt to win its fourth game in a row. The team defeated the Spurs at home on Thursday and the Clippers at home on Sunday after winning at Denver prior to the break. The two teams will play one more time during the regular season. Butler's 31 points helped the Heat win their previous head-to-head match on January 31 with a score of 115-106.
Miami is 5-1 SU and 6-0 ATS in its last six games. The Heat is 5-2 SU in its last seven against Sacramento. Miami hasn’t been all that great against the number when playing the Kings. In the last 13 matchups, Miami is 4-9 ATS.
Sacramento is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games. In the last six games at home against the Heat, the Kings have covered five times. Twelve of the last 18 Heat-Kings games have gone Over the total.
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J.A. CAVALIER FREE PICK: HEAT +8
