Heat's Powell Out for Raptors Rematch

Miami looks to rebound after Tuesday's loss to Toronto

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:18pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, with the players' forms broken down into overlapping angular shapes in a palette of red, orange, purple and black.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the intensity of a high-stakes matchup between the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors.Today in Miami

The Miami Heat will be without star guard Norman Powell as they travel to Toronto for a rematch with the Raptors on Thursday night. The Heat are looking to bounce back after losing to the Raptors earlier this week, but will have to do so without one of their top scorers due to injury.

Why it matters

The Heat are fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, so any missed games from key players like Powell could significantly impact their chances. The Raptors, meanwhile, are looking to solidify their own postseason berth with a season sweep of Miami.

The details

Powell, who is averaging 19.2 points per game this season, is out with a sprained ankle he suffered in the previous Raptors-Heat matchup. The Heat will have to rely more heavily on players like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to generate offense against a tough Toronto defense.

  • The Heat lost to the Raptors 102-98 on Tuesday, April 7.
  • Thursday's rematch is scheduled for April 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Norman Powell

A 28-year-old guard for the Miami Heat who is averaging a career-high 19.2 points per game this season.

Jimmy Butler

The 33-year-old star forward for the Miami Heat, averaging 22.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.

Bam Adebayo

The 25-year-old center for the Miami Heat, making his third All-Star team this season while averaging 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

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What they’re saying

“Losing Norman is tough, but we've got to find a way to get it done without him. The Raptors are a tough team, but we're ready for the challenge.”

— Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat Forward

What’s next

The Heat will need to reevaluate Powell's injury status ahead of their next game against the Raptors on Thursday.

The takeaway

The Heat's playoff push took a hit with the injury to Norman Powell, but they'll have to find a way to overcome his absence and avoid getting swept by the Raptors in the season series.