Miami Heat and Houston Rockets Face Off in Matchup

The Heat and Rockets meet for the first time this season as Miami looks to continue its recent dominance in the series.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 9:52pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Miami Heat (31-29) and Houston Rockets (37-21) will face off on Saturday, February 28th at 3:30 PM EST at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The game will be televised on FanDuel Sports Network Sun and Space City Home Network (Houston). The Heat have won 9 of the last 10 matchups against the Rockets, and hold a 42-34 all-time regular season advantage. Both teams will be missing key players due to injuries, with the Heat being without Norman Powell, Nikola Jovic, and Terry Rozier, while the Rockets will be missing Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, and Fred VanVleet.

Why it matters

This matchup between the Heat and Rockets features two teams heading in different directions this season. The Heat have struggled with consistency and injuries, while the Rockets have emerged as one of the surprise teams in the Western Conference. A win for the Heat could help them gain ground in the crowded Eastern Conference playoff race, while a Rockets victory would solidify their standing as a top team in the West.

The details

The Heat will be led by Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Andrew Wiggins, while the Rockets will counter with Amen Thompson, Josh Okogie, and Kevin Durant. Both teams will be missing key contributors, with the Heat being without Norman Powell, Nikola Jovic, and Terry Rozier, and the Rockets missing Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, and Fred VanVleet.

  • The game will take place on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at 3:30 PM EST.
  • The Heat and Rockets have met 76 times in the regular season, with Miami holding a 42-34 advantage.

The players

Bam Adebayo

The All-Star center for the Miami Heat, known for his defensive prowess and versatility.

Kevin Durant

The superstar forward for the Houston Rockets, one of the most dominant players in the NBA.

Amen Thompson

The rookie guard for the Houston Rockets, a highly touted prospect out of the G League Ignite program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There were a lot more efforts in that second half and, we say it all the time, that doesn't guarantee anything, but just there in the second half, how many times did we hit the deck on a loose ball?”

— Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat Head Coach (SI.com)

“They just beat us at our game, they ran us out of the gym in the first half and then if they miss, they had those 14 second chance opportunities. Then it settled in, the effort changed the momentum of the game. We got back into it, took a lead and then it became a possession game. From there, they made some plays down the stretch where we couldn't.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat Head Coach (SI.com)

What’s next

The Heat and Rockets will meet again on March 15th in Houston, with the Rockets looking to avenge their earlier loss and the Heat aiming to continue their recent dominance in the series.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Heat and Rockets features two teams heading in different directions, with the Heat struggling with consistency and injuries, while the Rockets have emerged as one of the surprise teams in the Western Conference. A win for the Heat could help them gain ground in the crowded Eastern Conference playoff race, while a Rockets victory would solidify their standing as a top team in the West.