Heat crumble to fourth straight loss, blowing 16-point lead against Nets
MIAMI – This is the balancing act of an NBA schedule.
After a gauntlet of a three-game trip that opened with the Boston Celtics, closed with the Milwaukee Bucks and inbetween had the Minnesota Timberwolves on the second night of a back-to-back set, the Miami Heat on Wednesday seemingly received a reprieve.
Home for the start of a three-game homestand after a 1-3 start, this time there was a Brooklyn Nets roster lacking Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dennis Smith.
No matter, not the way the start of this season is going for Erik Spoelstra’s team.
Blowing a 16-point lead to an opponent missing the heart of its rotation, the Heat fell to 1-4 on the season with a 109-105 loss at Kaseya Center.
Ultimately, it was a result that took away any of the shine of the Heat getting 30 points from Tyler Herro, 21 points and 14 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, and 20 points from Jimmy Butler.
At the start of a three-game homestand, this was not the result required for a team with 12 of its first 17 on the road.
As it is, the lone win was on opening night, when the Heat barely held off a late comeback by the Detroit Pistons.
Up next for the Heat’s is their Friday night’s opener in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament against the visiting Washington Wizards, a game that also counts in the regular-season standings.
Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday night’s game:
1. Closing time: The Heat led 32-29 after the first period and, after going up 16 in the second period, 56-46 at halftime. The Heat then pushed back to a 15-point lead in the third quarter, before seeing that shaved to 83-75 entering the fourth.
From there, the Nets matched their largest lead to that stage at 89-86 with 8:38 to play on a Trendon Watford 3-pointer, with their lead moving to 97-90 with 5:37 to play.
An Adebayo 3-point play got the Heat within 98-95, with a transition Butler layup making it 98-97.
Later, a pair of Herro 3-pointers drew the Heat within 107-105, but by then it was too late.
2. Love out, Jaquez in: With starting power forward Kevin Love sidelined for the second time in three games with a shoulder contusion, and with the Nets lacking size in the injury absence of Claxton, Spoelstra moved Jaime Jaquez Jr. into the starting lineup.
It was the latest vote of confidence for the mature 2023 first-round pick out of UCLA, with Spoelstra giving Jaquez his second start of the season instead of opting for the height of 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic.
It was a rough night for Jaquez, who closed 1 of 9, including 0 for 6 on 3-pointers.
Despite previously being listed on the injury report earlier in the day, Bam Adebayo (hip) and Butler (knee) were in the Heat starting lineup, along with Kyle Lowry and Herro.
Adebayo had missed Monday’s road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
3. Another twist: Despite being without Love and Caleb Martin, the return to health of Josh Richardon and Haywood Highsmith had the Heat opting to make all three of their players on two-way contracts inactive: Jamal Cain, Cole Swider and R.J. Hampton.
Teams operating with only 14 players under standard contract, one below the maximum, can only have two-way players active for a combined total of 90 games. Wednesday night kept the Heat from further reducing that total.
Also inactive were Love and Martin, leaving the Heat with 12 players in uniform, three below the limit.
4. Highsmith effect: Highsmith made an early impact on both ends in playing as the second reserve off the Heat bench.
First there was a 3-pointer of a Butler assist and then a dramatic chase down block against Dorian Finney-Smith.
The block initially was ruled a foul, but was so clean that Spoelstra challenged with 8:54 left in the second period, now that coaches can receive a second challenge if the first is successful.
The Nets earlier issued a challenge to prevent Ben Simmons’ third foul at the end of the first quarter, but that challenge was unsuccessful, eliminating their opportunity for a second challenge.
Highsmith then moved to 3 of 3 on 3-pointers with a pair in the second half, while playing on a minutes restriction.
5. Adebayo attack: Adebayo attempted to maximize his advantage against the Nets at every turn, efficient with the exception of his turnovers.
Adebayo closed with his 150th career double-double. The only players with more are Rony Seikaly (221), Alonzo Mourning (205) and Hassan Whiteside (185).