The Houston Rockets travel to the Kaseya Center to face the Miami Heat on February 28, 2026, in an important inter-conference matchup. Houston enters the game in strong form and is fighting to maintain its position near the top of the Western Conference, while Miami is looking to bounce back after a difficult stretch and improve its playoff position in the East.
This game presents an interesting contrast in styles. The Heat play at one of the fastest tempos in the league and rely on high-scoring offense, especially at home. Meanwhile, the Rockets are built around strong defense, rebounding dominance, and efficient scoring led by Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun.
With both teams coming in with momentum, recent high-scoring trends, and key injuries affecting rotations, this matchup is expected to be close, competitive, and potentially high-scoring.
Match Information
| Match | Houston Rockets vs Miami Heat |
|---|---|
| Date | February 28, 2026 |
| Time | 3:30 PM ET |
| Venue | Kaseya Center, Miami |
| TV | Prime Video |
| Spread | Rockets -2.5 |
| Moneyline | Rockets -135 |
| Over/Under | 225.5 |
Standings & Season Overview
| Team | Record | Conference Position |
|---|---|---|
| Rockets | 37–21 | Top 3 in West |
| Heat | 31–29 | Playoff race in East |
Houston is one of the most balanced teams this season with elite defense, while Miami remains a dangerous offensive team but has struggled with consistency.
Recent Form (Last Games)
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have won four of their last five games and are 6–4 in their last 10. Their recent wins include strong defensive performances, allowing just around 104–109 points per game during this stretch. Houston recently defeated Orlando 113–108 and also recorded convincing wins over Sacramento and Utah.
Miami Heat
Miami has gone 3–2 in its last five games but enters this matchup after back-to-back losses. Despite the results, the Heat continue to score heavily, averaging around 120+ points over the last 10 games. However, defensive lapses in key quarters have cost them recent games.
Head-to-Head (H2H)
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall meetings | Heat lead 23–13 |
| Last meeting | Rockets won 102–98 |
| Recent trend | Miami strong historically at home |
Miami has had the upper hand historically, but Houston has taken recent matchups, including a road win last season.
Key Team Statistics
Houston Rockets
| Stat | Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points Scored | 114.7 | 21st |
| Points Allowed | 109.1 | 3rd |
| Rebounds | 48.3 | 1st |
| Blocks | 6.0 | 2nd |
Houston’s strength lies in defense, rebounding, and physical play inside.
Miami Heat
| Stat | Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points Scored | 119.9 | 2nd |
| Points Allowed | 117.2 | 20th |
| Rebounds | 47.3 | 2nd |
| Assists | 28.7 | 7th |
Miami is one of the best offensive teams in the league but remains vulnerable defensively.
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Key Players to Watch
Houston Rockets
| Player | Key Stats |
|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | 26.1 PPG |
| Alperen Sengun | 20.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 6.4 APG |
| Amen Thompson | 17.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG |
| Tari Eason | 11.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG |
Durant is coming off multiple big performances, including a recent 40-point game.
Miami Heat
| Player | Key Stats |
|---|---|
| Tyler Herro | 21.2 PPG |
| Bam Adebayo | 18.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG |
| Andrew Wiggins | 16.1 PPG |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 15.0 PPG |
Miami’s offense depends heavily on Herro and Adebayo, especially with injuries affecting depth.
Injury Report
Miami Heat
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Norman Powell | Out (groin) |
| Nikola Jovic | Out |
| Terry Rozier | Out |
Houston Rockets
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Out |
| Jae’Sean Tate | Out |
| Steven Adams | Out for season |
| Fred VanVleet | Out for season |
Both teams are missing key rotation players, but Houston has managed better depth during this stretch.
Betting Trends & Game Insights
- Both teams have seen the Over hit in their last three games
- Miami plays at the fastest pace in the NBA
- Combined scoring average: 234.6 points per game
- Rockets have covered the spread in four straight games
- Heat games have gone Over in 53% of matchups
- Miami scores 10+ points more than Houston’s defensive average
The tempo and offensive efficiency from both sides strongly support a high-scoring contest.
Best Picks for Rockets vs Heat
| Market | Pick |
|---|---|
| Spread | Heat +2.5 (value play) |
| Total | Over 225.5 |
| Moneyline | Rockets slight edge |
| Player Prop | Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points |
| Player Prop | Alperen Sengun Double-Double |
Predicted Score
Rockets 116 – Heat 115
This matchup should be tight from start to finish. Houston enters in better overall form and brings elite defense and rebounding, but Miami’s fast pace and strong home offense make them dangerous.
The biggest factor is tempo. Miami’s transition-heavy style will likely increase possessions, which suits Houston’s efficient scorers like Durant and Sengun. With both teams trending toward higher totals and defensive inconsistencies on the Heat side, the game is likely to turn into a high-scoring battle.
Expect a close finish, with the Rockets having a slight edge, but the Over 225.5 looks like the strongest play for this matchup.
