Utah Jazz vs Miami Heat Picks and Predictions January 9th 2025

Heat Look to Continue Momentum Against Struggling Jazz

The Miami Heat aim to build on their hard-fought road win over the Golden State Warriors as they visit the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Both teams are coming off contrasting emotional games, setting up an intriguing clash.

Miami’s Bounce-Back Effort

The Heat (8-10) snapped a three-game skid with a 114-98 victory over the Warriors on Tuesday, overcoming the sting of a double-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings the night before. Miami showed resilience, rallying as a team in the wake of that disappointing defeat.

“It’s always good when you go through a brutal game like that and you get a bounce-back win,” Heat forward Bam Adebayo said. “Those are the ones that you really remember.”

Miami’s defense played a key role, limiting Golden State’s explosive offense while maintaining steady scoring on their end. Adebayo, as usual, anchored the Heat’s effort on both ends of the court.

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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized the importance of such experiences for a team looking to find its identity.

“We have a group that has great competitive character,” Spoelstra said. “We’re working to get things right and get to a different level.”

Utah’s Heartbreak

The Jazz (9-12) are reeling from a devastating 124-121 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, decided by a buzzer-beating 50-foot shot from Trae Young. Utah had clawed back from a deficit, with Collin Sexton hitting a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game before Young’s heroics dashed their hopes.

“Collin made a great play and gave us a chance,” Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen said. “Sucks for him to make a shot like that and not get it to overtime.”

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Utah has lost eight straight at home, and coach Will Hardy acknowledged the difficulty of moving past such a loss.

“This is one you just kind of shake their hand and move on,” Hardy said. “It was a hell of a finish and an incredible shot.”

Key Matchups and Factors

1. Heat’s Resilience vs. Jazz’s Home Struggles
   Miami is looking to gain momentum on a six-game road trip, while Utah is desperate to break its home losing streak. The Heat will test the Jazz’s ability to bounce back from tough defeats.
2. Battle of Big Men: Adebayo vs. Markkanen
   Adebayo’s all-around game will clash with Markkanen’s scoring and rebounding prowess. Both players are central to their teams’ chances.
3. Sensabaugh’s Impact
   Jazz rookie Brice Sensabaugh torched Miami for a career-high 34 points in Utah’s blowout win last Saturday. The Heat will need to adjust defensively to limit his influence this time.

Outlook

The Heat have an opportunity to avenge their blowout loss to Utah and continue their upward trajectory. Meanwhile, the Jazz will look to regroup and end their home skid. With both teams navigating inconsistent stretches, Thursday’s game presents a critical opportunity to regain momentum.