PREVIEW: The Miami Heat (31-29) and Houston Rockets (37-21) meet for the first of two regular season matchups , with the Rockets carrying significant momentum into South Florida. Houston has won three consecutive games, including victories over the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, and Orlando Magic , with Kevin Durant scoring a season-high 40 points in the Magic victory. Miami, meanwhile, lost All-Star guard and leading scorer Norman Powell to a groin injury in their previous contest against Philadelphia , dealing a significant blow to their offensive firepower. The Heat fell 124-117 to the 76ers on Thursday, marking their second consecutive loss. Houston is the final team Miami will face for the first time this season, as the Heat has currently won nine of the last 10 overall against the Rockets , though the Rockets arrive as road-tested contenders. The Rockets rank fourth in defensive rating while the Heat play at the fastest pace in the league , setting up a classic clash of tempo preferences. Reed Sheppard has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, averaging 16.9 points on 51.6 percent shooting during that stretch , emerging as a key complementary scorer alongside Durant. For Miami, Bam Adebayo paired 29 points with 14 rebounds against Philadelphia, while Tyler Herro contributed 25 points off the bench , leaving the Heat dependent on their remaining core to overcome Powell's absence.