Phoenix Suns vs Miami Heat predicted starting lineups and depth chart for Dec. 7 | 2024-24 NBA season

The Phoenix Suns continue their four-game road swing with a matchup against the Miami Heat on Saturday. Phoenix, which lost 126-124 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, hopes to get back into the win column. To beat the Heat, it will have to survive the absence of Kevin Durant, who sprained his ankle on Tuesday versus the San Antonio Spurs.

The Heat will hope to take advantage of their better health when they host the Suns. Jimmy Butler and Co. hope to sustain their fiery form that allowed them to blow past the LA Lakers 134-93 on Thursday. A win by the Heat will put them over the .500 mark for just the third time this season.

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Phoenix Suns vs Miami Heat: NBA Injury Report

Phoenix Suns injury report

Besides Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic will also be unavailable. The Bosnian Bear is dealing with a right thigh contusion. Rookie Ryan Dunn has been ruled questionable due to left ankle soreness.

Miami Heat injury report

Kel’el Ware is unavailable, although he is healthy. He has been assigned to the G League for seasoning. Pelle Larsson is questionable due to a right ankle sprain. Jimmy Butler (knee) has been upgraded to probable.

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Phoenix Suns vs Miami Heat: Starting lineups and depth chart

Phoenix Suns starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Tyus Jones	Monte Morris
Devin Booker	Grayson Allen	Damion Lee
Bradley Beal	Josh Okogie	Jalen Bridges
Royce O'Neale	Oso Ighodaro
Mason Plumlee	Bol Bol

Miami Heat starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Tyler Herro	Terry Rozier	Dru Smith
Jimmy Butler	Alec Burks	Josh Richardson
Duncan Robinson	Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Haywood Highsmith	Nikola Jovic	Kevin Love
Bam Adebayo	Thomas Bryant

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Phoenix Suns vs Miami Heat: Key matchups

Jimmy Butler vs Devin Booker

If Jimmy Butler is cleared to play, he will likely play shooting guard to allow Duncan Robinson to slide into the small forward spot. Butler’s matchup against Devin Booker is arguably the best one-on-one duel in the Suns-Heat game.

Booker will test Butler’s troublesome knee by forcing him to fight through screens. Jimmy Buckets must step up defensively as the Suns, without Durant, will lean on the explosive guard to carry the offense.

On the other end, Butler could try to take advantage of his size in the paint or the mid-range against Booker. Phoenix’s sharpshooter has become an elite defender, so Butler’s night will not be easy on both sides of the ball.

Tyler Herro vs Bradley Beal

Tyler Herro against Bradley Beal is perhaps the more interesting matchup than the Butler-Booker showdown. Neither Beal nor Herro are considered elite defenders, so both could have a big-scoring night.

The Suns need Beal to put up buckets to fill Durant’s slack. Herro must be up to the task of slowing down Big Panda.