PREVIEW: The Miami Heat dismantled the Atlanta Hawks 128-97 ahead of this matchup, putting their record at 30-27 and securing eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Tyler Herro returned from the injured list on Friday night, scoring a game-high 24 points in 23 minutes off the bench during the victory over Atlanta. Defensively, the Heat allow just 112.5 points per 100 possessions, ranking as the third-best defense in the league, with their strength particularly evident against three-point shooters. The Heat possess a quick tempo ranked first in the league and maintain strong defense against shots attacking the rim, anchored by their high-frequency post-up shot approach. The Memphis Grizzlies currently hold a 21-33 record and sit in 11th place in the Western Conference standings, six wins behind the Portland Trail Blazers who are in the play-in zone. Memphis broke a four-game losing streak by defeating the Utah Jazz 123-114, with role players stepping up in the second half to overcome a double-digit halftime deficit. The Grizzlies will be without star point guard Ja Morant due to elbow injury, along with several other contributors sidelined by various ailments. From an offensive perspective, Memphis ranks third in post-up frequency and seventh in pace, but their defense struggles significantly when opponents attack the rim, ranking 26th in that critical category.