MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 112-91 NBA play-in victory over the Chicago Bulls:
– No, not necessarily among Friday night’s biggest storylines on a night the Heat found their way to victory in the absences of Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.
– Certainly not bigger than Tyler Herro’s effort.
– But perhaps among the most significant.
– Because to compete against the Celtics, it likely will have to come over the top from the Heat.
– As in the shooting of Duncan Robinson.
– While not necessarily up to full speed, merely having Robinson on the court at least presents...
MIAMI – Immediate challenge conquered.
Greater challenge ahead.
Pushing past the Chicago Bulls a day after learning team leader Jimmy Butler would be lost for weeks with a knee injury, the reward for the Miami Heat for Friday night’s 112-91 win-or-go-home play-in victory is a first-round matchup against the league-best Boston Celtics.
On a night offense was a struggle at times for both teams, the Heat turned up the defense to essentially salvage their season.
Something more, far more, will be required against the Celtics, with that best-of-seven series opening Sunday at 1 p.m. at TD Garden.
“I...
The blow that ultimately turned out the lights on the Miami Heat on Wednesday, and probably beyond, came late in the first quarter and not those final, frantic seconds at the end of the game. Jimmy Butler went up for a shot then under the basket and landed awkwardly on the extended leg of Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre.
Butler lay like a fallen oak on the floor in pain that was mirrored on the televised faces of Heat president Pat Riley and its vice president of scowling, Alonzo Mourning. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, looking for some karmic justice, asked the refs what happened there in harder language.
Butler...
PHILADELPHIA – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 105-104 NBA play-in loss to the Philadelphia 76ers:
– The zone defense was energizing and effective.
– The effort on that end of the floor was undeniable.
– Could not have been much better.
– But you also have to score.
– Which made this much like the Heat’s season.
– Heart and hustle will get you to places such as the play-in.
– Points will put you over the top.
– This is why the Heat got Terry Rozier.
– And this is why the Heat badly missed Rozier in this one.
– Tyler Herro couldn’t make a shot until late.
– Jimmy...
PHILADELPHIA – And so for the second consecutive season for the Miami Heat, the NBA play-in round comes down to a single all-or-nothing game at Kaseya Center.
Last year, the Heat turned the opportunity into the launchpad for a run to the 2023 NBA Finals.
This time, there will be a mere two-day turnaround from the sting of blowing a double-digit lead against the Philadelphia 76ers in a 105-104 loss Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Oh, and it gets worse, with Jimmy Butler injuring his right knee late in the first quarter, hobbled from that stage, and now scheduled for a Thursday MRI.
“It...
MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra routinely stresses how his Miami Heat relish a challenge.
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They now have one, a Wednesday night NBA play-in road game against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Win that, and it’s on to the first round of the NBA playoffs against the No. 2 New York Knicks. Lose that, and for the second year in a row there will be a winner-take-all game at Kaseya...
MIAMI -– Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 125-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors:
– Don’t believe the hype.
– Yes, the Heat can move to No. 6 in the East and out of the play-in with a Sunday victory and a Sunday loss by the Magic, as well as a loss by the 76ers or Pacers.
– The Heat assuredly will be playing to win, with potential homecome in the play-in at stake.
– But the Bucks, the Magic’s opponent Sunday, have shown little desire to finish second in the East.
– Damian Lillard sat on Friday night for the Bucks and more could sit Sunday, beyond injured Giannis...
MIAMI – The hope remains there for an escape from the play-in round for the Miami Heat after they took care of business with a 125-103 victory Friday night over the Toronto Raptors at Kaseya Center.
But the odds remain unsettling.
Basically, if everything plays out to form on Sunday’s closing day of the NBA regular season, the Heat will finish No. 8 in the East and open their postseason with a Wednesday night road play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The only escape hatch for the Heat is pairing a Sunday victory over the Raptors with a Sunday loss by the Orlando Magic to the Milwaukee...
MIAMI -– Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 111-92 loss to the Dallas Mavericks:
– At one point, the way this one was playing out, a running clock might have been the way to go.
– Now the question is whether time is running out for the Heat.
– A week from Friday, this could be over.
– Because how, after nights such as this, could anyone have confidence against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers in a Tuesday play-in opener, especially in Philadelphia?
– And if a loss then, it comes down to a winner-take-all game at Kaseya Center against the winner of Chicago-Atlanta...