To begin the new year of 2026, the Miami Heat are back on the road to take on the top team in the East in the Detroit Pistons.
(Photo via Getty Images)

The Miami Heat are back at it for a New Year’s Day matchup against the number one team in the Eastern Conference. They will take on Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson and the Detroit Pistons.

Cunningham is one of the East’s top players this season with averages of 26.5 points, 9.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds on 46.8% shooting. He has led the Pistons to an elite 25-8 record and winners of seven of their last 10 games. Miami is 0-1 against Detroit so far during this campaign, and have lost four straight to them dating back to 2024. It will be a true tough test for a Heat team that has finally broke through again recently with three-straight wins.

And the Heat will once again have to get the job done without Tyler Herro, who didn’t even make the flight to travel with the team due to his now longterm toe injury. Pelle Larsson also didn’t make the trip and will be sidelined after re-injuring a tweaked ankle.

However, Miami still has enough to get the job done, and will look for increased production from Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo. Kel’el Ware is also expected to get the start again, and will have a difficult matchup against Detroit big man Jalen Duren.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Detroit Pistons:

Tobias Harris (hip) — DOUBTFUL

Caris LeVert (knee) — OUT

Isaac Jones (g-league) — OUT

Bobi Klintman (g-league) — OUT

Wendell Moore Jr. (g-league) — OUT

Miami Heat:  

Simone Fontecchio (ankle) — QUESTIONABLE

Tyler Herro (toe) — OUT

Pelle Larsson (ankle) — OUT

Vlad Goldin (g-league) — OUT

Jahmir Young (g-league) — OUT

Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Detroit Pistons:

Cade Cunningham, G

Duncan Robinson, G

Ausar Thompson, F

Ronald Holland, F

Jalen Duren, C

Miami Heat:

Davion Mitchell, G

Norman Powell, G

Andrew Wiggins, F

Bam Adebayo, F/C

Kel’el Ware, C

Broadcast Info:

Tipoff: 7:00 PM EST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)

Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)

Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)

Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!

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