Winderman’s view: A less-than-convincing victory for the Heat

Observations and different notes of curiosity from Thursday evening’s 117-112 extra time victory the Charlotte Hornets:

– When you get all the way down to it, this needed to be a no-lose scenario for the Heat.

– As in they couldn’t afford to go south on this one the way in which they’d of their earlier two, in opposition to the Pacers and Blazers.

– The Heat have been coming off a two-day break, with one recreation over the earlier 5 days.

– The Hornets have been taking part in on the second evening of a back-to-back that had them flying via a hurricane in a single day.

– And have been with out LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Cody Martin.

– Entering final within the East.

– On a six-game dropping streak.

– If not now, then when?

– And nonetheless, this sort of battle.

– No, by no means ought to have gone extra time.

– But it did.

– It is difficult to disclaim that there’s a late-game disaster of confidence in place.

– Saturday, the remaining issue gained’t be as arresting when the groups meet once more.

– But to be who they wish to be, the Heat should do it once more.

– They can’t hold settling for two-game splits.

– As they beforehand have completed in opposition to the Raptors, Blazers, Kings and Warriors.

– Because after Saturday, there are the Suns at house on Monday after which a difficult four-game journey that included a matchup in opposition to the resurgent Cavaliers.

– Tyler Herro missed his second consecutive recreation attributable to a sprained left ankle.

– Caleb Martin, who additionally had been listed as questionable pregame attributable to a quad contusion, was obtainable and within the beginning lineup.

– The Heat’s different starters have been Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Max Strus and Kyle Lowry.

– With the beginning, Butler tied Jamal Mashburn for twenty third on the Heat all-time checklist.

– The recreation was Butler’s 700th regular-season look.

– Dedwayne Dedmon, Gabe Vincent and Duncan Robinson once more entered collectively because the Heat’s first substitution.

– With Erik Spoelstra principally going with an eight-man rotation in Herro’s absence.

– Butler’s second rebound moved him previous Dan Majerle for twenty fourth on the Heat all-time checklist.

– With his third level, Duncan Robinson moved previous Steve Smith for twenty third on the Heat all-time scoring checklist.

– With his first steal, Dedmon reached 250 for his profession.

– With his first steal, Vincent reached 100 for his profession.

– Adebayo’s first steal tied Goran Dragic for eleventh on the Heat all-time checklist.

– Adebayo’s eleventh shot moved him previous Hassan Whiteside for fifteenth on the Heat all-time checklist.

– Butler’s fourth free-throw try was the 4,five hundredth of his profession.

– Butler’s seventh free throw moved him previous Dennis Johnson for 88th on the NBA all-time checklist.

– Butler’s eighth free throw moved him previous Dan Issel for 87th on the NBA all-time checklist.

– Spoelstra spoke pregame of his group’s run of shut video games and shut losses.

– “I think those are really good opportunities for your team to get better,” he stated. “That’s when you have the most focus, the most context. Everything has to be done with great detail. And you also have to stay the course and understand what’s putting us in position to have opportunities to win and what’s hurting us.”

– Spoelstra added, “We’re not looking for moral victories, that’s not what I’m talking about. We’re doing some things better and the result hasn’t been what we want it to be. But you just keep on doing these and stacking these kinds of days, eventually it turns in your favor.”

– The recreation marked the second of eight occurrences this season when Heat play the identical opponent in consecutive video games on the identical venue, with six of these coming in Miami. They beforehand did so earlier this season in opposition to Toronto, splitting the 2 video games.

– Hornets coach Steve Clifford stated he embraced the no-travel scheduling.

– “I think it’s great we don’t have to travel,” he stated. “It’s like a mini kind of playoff thing.”

– Clifford stated he absolutely expects the Heat to come back round.

– “They haven’t shot the ball as well as they will,” he stated.

– He added, “At the end of the year, they’ll be right there.”

– Clifford stated he additionally sees higher days forward for his group, as soon as LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Cody Martin return.

– “Those guys are all going to come back,” he stated, “and when they do, we’re a good team.”

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