The last few weeks haven’t been kind to the San Antonio Spurs. Back-to-back blowout losses to the Memphis Grizzlies leave them two games below .500 and losers in four of their last five games. Somehow, it’s still better than what’s happening in South Beach.
The Miami Heat leads the league in bad vibes. Jimmy Butler is back after a seven-game suspension for breaking team policy. The Heat’s best player hasn’t looked engaged since requesting a trade earlier this year. Without Butler, Miami has focused on establishing its youth as the franchise’s core. Tyler Herro is having a career year, Bam Adebayo is a defensive anchor, and young pieces like Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have shown flashes.
The Heat are a formidable opponent with Erik Spoelstra at the helm, regardless of who is on the roster. Still, they’ll be a step down from the competition the Spurs have faced in January, especially from teams like Memphis. San Antonio’s schedule doesn’t get much easier from here as a trip to Paris looms. The Spurs have an opportunity to steal a win on the road against a Miami team just trying to stay out of the headlines.
January 19, 2025 | 2 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Jeremy Sochan – Out (back), Riley Minix – Out (G League), David Duke Jr. – Out (G League), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League)
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Heat Injuries: Bam Adebayo – Available (back), Josh Christopher – Questionable (G League), Josh Richardson – Out (heel), Dru Smith – Out (achilles), Isaiah Stevens – Out (G League)
What to watch for:
Winning the hustle game
They don’t call them the toughest, best-conditioned, meanest franchise in the NBA for nothing. #HeatCulture will be out in full force on Sunday. San Antonio has to rise to the challenge. In all seriousness, the Heat are a top-10 defensive team in the NBA. Adebayo is a defensive force, and they have enough weapons around him to cause opposing teams headaches. San Antonio’s offense has been anything but consistent lately. That will need to change to overcome a tough Heat team.
Containing the three-point line
In two straight games against Memphis, the Spurs got lit up from three. The Heat are eighth in the NBA in three-pointers per game. Herro is a threat off the dribble, Duncan Robinson is one of the league’s best movement shooters, and Haywood Highsmith is a nice three-and-D wing. The Spurs must contain ball handlers and get out to shooters to keep Miami from getting hot.
Getting Wembanyama going
Victor Wembanyama has taken a step back after putting up insane stats in December. He seemed to float in and out of the game offensively against Memphis. Mitch Johnson should make a concerted effort to get his superstar big man back on track against Miami. Watch to see if San Antonio runs more intentional action to get Wembanyama the ball in spots where he’s comfortable, either on the perimeter or in the paint. A bounce-back Wembanyama performance could get him back on track before he heads home later this week.
MIAMI (WSVN) – A 21-year-old man was arrested on a charge of sexual battery on a minor by an adult and lewd or lascivious molestation stemming from an alleged incident involving a 10-year-old girl, according to an arrest report.
According to the report, Alvin Davis was arrested due in connection from an alleged incident that occurred Oct. 16, 2025, in Miami. The child’s mother, who became suspicious and placed a recording device in the child’s bedroom.
The report states the girl told investigators that Davis touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions.
Authorities said Davis was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held without bond.
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Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is expected to be a late first-round draft pick on Thursday night, which will bring him a guaranteed four-year contract worth around $20 million. But he considered turning that down for a big-money offer to stay in college.
Simpson, who has previously said that Miami offered him $6.5 million to transfer and play for the Hurricanes in 2026, said on David Pollack’s podcast that the money was too good not to at least think about.
“I think the last offer was definitely one that I just had to sit down and consider, because it would have been life-changing money,” Simpson said. “It would have made me the highest-paid player in college, and it was something to where I was like, I can’t just ignore this. I have to sit down and think about it. That’s how I am, I don’t want to do anything sporadic. I want to sit down and think it all out, and it really just came down to how I wanted to be remembered and what do I want to do.”
Simpson, who spent three years as a backup at Alabama before becoming the starter last year, went to his former coach, Nick Saban, for advice.
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“I actually talked to Coach Saban about this,” Simpson said. “The things he was talking about were, do you want to play football in college, or do you want to play football professionally? And he was like, ‘Take the money out of it, take the rounds out of it, what do you want to do next year?’ And without a doubt, without hesitation, I said, ‘I want to play professional football.’ And he was like, ‘Well, there’s your answer.’ It was something that I’ve always dreamed of, and I felt that I was ready to take that next step and be the face of a franchise and lead a locker room.”
It’s a different world in football now that players might make more money with another year in college than their annual average salary will be in the NFL. Now, players have to think about whether the NCAA or the NFL will be more lucrative. NIL deals have changed both college football and pro football.
Photo Credit: @CanesFootball via X // redshirt senior wideout Cooper Barkate catches a 29-yard touchdown from Darian Mensah during Miami’s Spring Game on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Cobb Stadium.
After more than three months removed from a devastating national championship loss, over 5,000 fans gathered at Cobb Stadium on Saturday morning for a first look at Miami football’s 2026 squad.
The annual spring game offered exactly that: a mix of evaluation and entertainment. Miami structured the day differently this year, using the first half for position drills, including passing, red zone and agility work, before transitioning into a live scrimmage in the second half.
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Much of the attention centered on new quarterback Darian Mensah, a transfer from Duke. While he started slow, Mensah quickly settled in and showed why he’s expected to lead the Hurricanes this fall.
Mensah connected multiple times with familiar target Cooper Barkate, his former teammate at Duke. The duo picked up right where they left off, highlighted by a 29-yard touchdown to the back corner of the end zone. Mensah added a 33-yard touchdown pass to Daylyn Upshaw and a five-yard score to Cam Vaughn, another transfer addition.
Calm in the pocket and effective under pressure, Mensah extended plays and delivered accurate throws, flashing the kind of playmaking ability Miami fans have been eager to see.
With several returning starters such as wide receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher seeing limited action, opportunities opened for younger players to contribute. RB Jordan Lyle capitalized, breaking off multiple strong runs and showing quick footwork in the open field.
Behind Mensah, Miami showcased its quarterback depth. Judd Anderson, Luke Nickel and early enrollee Dereon Coleman all saw snaps, with Nickel making a strong case for the backup role. Coleman flashed potential but remains a longer-term development piece.
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Photo Credit: @CanesFootball via IG // Miami quarterback Darian Mensah performs handshake with redshirt senior wideout Cooper Barkate during Miami’s Spring Game on April 18, 2026, at Cobb Stadium.
Defensively, Miami may have delivered the most impressive performance of the day.
Despite losing key contributors such as Ruben Bain and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, the Hurricanes controlled the line of scrimmage and limited offensive production. Defensive lineman Damon Wilson, a transfer from Missouri, along with tackles Justin Scott and Jarquez Carter, consistently disrupted plays. Scott’s quickness stood out against the run, while Wilson applied steady pressure off the edge.
In the secondary, Boston College transfer Omar Thornton, along with JJ Dunnigan and Xavier Lucas, contributed to multiple stops with tight coverage and physical tackling.
The offensive line, featuring several new faces and only one returning starter, showed flashes but remains a work in progress. Freshman Jackson Cantwell has big shoes to fill with Sisi Mauigoa declaring for the NFL draft. At 6-foot-8, 330 pounds, Cantwell acted as a brick wall protecting his QB and winning the battle at the line. However, the second team offensive line had some struggles, with two bad snaps in a row.
For many in attendance, however, the spring game was about more than just performance. It served as a rare opportunity for families and fans to connect with the program in a more personal setting, celebrating players beyond what they show on the field.
“It’s him fulfilling his dream and doing what he wants to do,” said the grandmother of wide receiver Milan Parris. “He’s my oldest grandson, and I’m just over the moon. I’m extremely proud of him.”
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While the defense may have controlled much of the action, the day ultimately served as an early glimpse into a team balancing new talent, developing depth and high expectations.
With nearly five months until the season opener against Stanford on Sept. 4, Miami leaves the spring with promise and plenty to still refine.