After losing six of their last seven games, the Miami Heat will look to begin getting back on track on the road versus the 15th seed Indiana Pacers. (Mandatory credit: Imagn Images)

If the Miami Heat fail to secure a victory on Sunday, it’s going to be another rock bottom moment less than 10 games away from the end of the regular season.

They are facing an injury riddled 16-58, 15th seed Indiana Pacers squad. Without the likes of Tyrese Haliburton all season long after suffering an achilles tear in last year’s NBA Finals, Indiana is the last place team in the Eastern Conference. They have lost nine of their last 10 games— but will it be a trap game for the likes of Miami?

The Heat are coming off a pathetic effort in a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They’ve lost six of their last seven games themselves, and now sit at the 10th and final play-in seed in the East. With just eight games remaining on Miami’s schedule, and time running out before they inevitably accept play-in fate for the fourth year in a row, these are must-win matchups.

Norman Powell has resurfaced back onto the Heat’s injury report with an upper respiratory illness. He will not suit up on Sunday afternoon. That likely paves a way for Pelle Larsson to get some run with the starters again and gives Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo more offensive responsibilities again in Powell’s absence.

Miami is 1-1 against Indiana this season ahead of this third and final matchup between the two teams.

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Indiana Pacers:

TJ McConnell (hamstring) — QUESTIONABLE 

Andrew Nembhard (back) — QUESTIONABLE

Aaron Nesmith (back) — QUESTIONABLE

Pascal Siakam (knee) — QUESTIONABLE

Obi Toppin (back) — QUESTIONABLE

Jarace Walker (back) — QUESTIONABLE

Jalen Slawson (g-league) — DOUBTFUL

Ivica Zubac (rib) — OUT

Tyrese Haliburton (achilles) — OUT

Johnny Furphy (ACL) — OUT

Miami Heat:  

Norman Powell (illness) — OUT 

Jahmir Young (g-league) — OUT 

Vlad Goldin (g-league) — OUT

Trevor Keels (g-league) — OUT

Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Indiana Pacers:

Andrew Nembhard, G

Aaron Nesmith, G

Jarace Walker, F

Pascal Siakam, F

Jay Huff, C

Miami Heat:

Davion Mitchell, G

Tyler Herro, G

Norman Powell, G/F

Andrew Wiggins, F

Bam Adebayo, C

Broadcast Info:

Tipoff: 5:00 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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