Miami Heat vs Portland Trail Blazers Predicted Starting Lineups and Depth Chart for Jan. 11 | 2024-25 NBA season

The Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat will meet for the first time this season at the Moda Center in Portand. As the NBA regular season approaches the midway point, the Heat, currently sitting at 7th in the East, are eager to consolidate their playoff position. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are 13th in the West and aiming for the draft lottery while developing their young talent.

With young star power on display, Saturday's encounter should be an entertaining one for the fans at the Moda Center. Guards Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons are starting to find their rhythm and have been key figures for Portland's offense. On the other hand, the Heat's sixth-year guard Tyler Herro is having his best season yet and continues to put up impressive numbers for Miami.

Miami Heat vs Portland Trail Blazers Predicted Starting Lineups and Depth Chart

Miami Heat's Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, Terry Rozier and Bam Adebayo react to a foul call against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

A potential Jimmy Butler trade has dominated discussions surrounding the Miami Heat franchise. The six-time All-Star was suspended by the organization due to "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team" and will miss Saturday's matchup.

The Heat have been flexible with their starting rotation, with 10 different players receiving starts at some point this season. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo lead the way with 36 starts, followed by Haywood Highsmith with 27.

Miami will be without guards Dru Smith and Josh Richardson due to injuries. Expect the Heat to take the court with a starting lineup consisting of Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Jaime Jacquez Jr., Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo.

Miami Heat depth chart:

G	Tyler Herro	Alec Burks	Dru Smith (Out)
G	Terry Rozier	Duncan Robinson	Josh Richardson (Out)	Josh Christopher
F	Jimmy Butler (Suspended)	Jaime Jacquez Jr.	Pelle Larsson
F	Haywood Highsmith	Nikola Jovic
C	Bam Adebayo	Kel'el Ware	Kevin Love

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has managed well with a young and developing roster. His starting lineups have been relatively consistent over the first 37 games, with five players having 27 or more starts. In total, 10 different players have started games this season.

However, the Blazers are dealing with injuries. Guard Matisse Thybulle and forward Jerami Grant are both sidelined. Center Deandre Ayton is listed as a game-time decision due to a calf issue.

Billups will likely go with a starting five that includes Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Deandre Ayton.

Portland Trail Blazers depth chart:

G	Anfernee Simons	Scoot Henderson	Rayan Rupert
G	Shaedon Sharpe	Matisse Thybulle (Questionable)	Delano Banton
F	Toumani Camara	Kris Murray
F	Jerami Grant (Out)	Deni Avdija	Jabari Walker
C	Deandre Ayton (Questionable)	Donovan Clinigan	Robert Williams III	Duop Reath

Miami Heat vs Portland Trail Blazers players to watch

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

Tyler Herro has stepped up in the absence of Jimmy Butler. The former Kentucky Wildcats star is thriving under coach Erik Spoelstra this season, leading the Miami Heat roster in points (23.6) and assists (5.0) while ranking second in rebounds (5.6).

The 24-year-old is coming off an exceptional outing against the Utah Jazz, finishing with a game-high 23 points alongside seven rebounds and five assists.

It's been a challenging few months for the Portland Trail Blazers fanbase, but guard Anfernee Simons has been one of the few bright spots for the organization. The 25-year-old guard has led the Blazers in both points and assists in four of the last six games, and has developed into a central figure in Billups' offense.

This season, Simons is averaging 18.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.1 apg and 0.9 spg in 34 games.