Heat's leaky defense meets Pacers without Haliburton

The Indiana Pacers (2-3), missing Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac, visit the Miami Heat (1-4) on Friday, October 30, with Miami's 23rd-ranked defense facing an Indiana offense that ranks 13th. Tip-off is at 8:00 PM ET.

Miami allows 114.1 points per 100 possessions, and opponents shoot 56.6 effective field goal percentage against it, 25th in the league. Indiana scores 110.6 per 100 and shoots 53.8 effective, 12th, so the Pacers should find open looks.

The Heat have the league's second-lowest opponent free throw rate, 0.220. Indiana's own rate of 0.297 is 16th, so the Pacers will have to score from the field.

Haliburton, who averages 9.5 assists, is out until Friday, November 13. Zubac, the team's leading rebounder at 8.7 a game, is out until Sunday, November 1. T.J. McConnell is also out, while Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith are probable.

Pascal Siakam leads Indiana with 24 points a game on 55.3% shooting. The Pacers have lost two in a row, most recently 114-109 to Philadelphia.

Giannis Antetokounmpo gives Miami 27.6 points and 11.2 rebounds a game. Bam Adebayo averages 2.2 steals, and Davion Mitchell hands out 7.4 assists. Simone Fontecchio is questionable, the only name on the Heat's report.

Miami has lost four of its five games, including a 131-106 home defeat to Minnesota, but beat Atlanta 129-117 in its last outing. Its net rating of -7.4 is 23rd; Indiana's 0.2 is 15th.

Sportsbooks' prices give the Heat a 73% chance to win. Keel's projection, built from the players available, makes it 70.3% for Miami.