The Miami Heat (33-30) face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a crucial matchup as they battle for playoff positioning. Currently sitting just a half-game behind Boston for the #6 seed in the East, Miami looks to maintain their dominance over Cleveland, having won 10 of their last 11 meetings.

The Heat enter as 11.5-point favorites, seeking their 34th win of the season. Their success against Cleveland this season (2-0) and recent head-to-head history suggests they're well-positioned to secure another victory.

Cleveland faces additional challenges after losing Darius Garland to injury in their recent defeat to the Wizards. The Cavaliers are struggling to find wins, with their last victory coming against the Hornets last week. They recently signed veteran Anderson Varejao, marking his return to the NBA after a four-year absence.

Key Factors:

• Heat looking to secure playoff positioning
• Cavaliers dealing with Garland's injury
• Miami's dominant head-to-head record
• Cleveland's recent losing streak
• Isaac Okoro's defensive matchup against Jimmy Butler

The game's outcome could significantly impact both teams' trajectories, with Miami fighting for playoff positioning and Cleveland looking to snap their losing streak.

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