Heat fizzle at close of four-game trip, stumble to 102-86 loss in Brooklyn

NEW YORK – Perhaps the goal was to give newcomers Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Kyle Anderson a representative portrait of what they are getting into.

In that case, mission accomplished with Friday night’s 102-86 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at Barclay Center that dropped the Miami Heat to 25-25.

Welcome to .500 fellas.

Where the Heat largely has established residence this season.

Again middling and mediocre, the Heat closed their four-game trip at 2-2. Finding a way to lose to an opponent that entered 17-34, the Heat very much appeared a team in need of something new.

Something that is expected to arrive Monday against the visiting Boston Celtics, when Wiggins, Mitchell and Anderson are expected to be available for their Heat debuts, acquired Thursday in exchange for Jimmy Butler.

Terry Rozier led the Heat with 20 points off the bench on a night Tyler Herro was limited to 15. The Heat also got 18 points and eight rebounds from Bam Adebayo and 14 rebounds from Kel’el Ware.

Five Degrees of Heat from Friday night’s game:

1. Closing time: The Nets led 28-26 after the first quarter, with it tied 53-53 at halftime. From there, the Heat took a 77-71 lead into the fourth.

The Nets then moved ahead early in the final period with a 9-0 run, with Herro returning with 7:22 to play and the Heat down 87-81.

From there, the Nets moved to their first double-digit lead, at 95-84, with the Heat’s offense grinding to a standstill.

The Heat closed with nine points in the fourth quarter on 2-of-21 shooting.

2. Terry time: Positioned to potentially lose at least some of his playing time with the acquisition of Mitchell, Rozier attempted to state his case by opening 5 of 6 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers.

It was Rozier’s third 20-point outing in his last five games.

While neither Rozier nor Mitchell are considered true playmakers, Mitchell has the clear defensive edge.

There is, however, also the reality of Rozier being under contract for another season, while Mitchell is an impending free agent.

3. Big and bigger: The Heat again maximized their big man, with Ware dominant on the boards and Adebayo often advancing the ball and running the offense.

Adebayo appeared to be playing particularly free, dribbling into feathery jumpers in transition.

Both Adebayo and Ware maximized early alley-oop feeds from Herro before that element of the offense fizzled.

But with Ware’s shot off and his defense uneven, it was Nikola Jovic who played as closer, to little avail.

4. Not so much: Formally named to the field Friday for the 3-point contest during All-Star Saturday, Herro then opened 1 of 5 on 3-pointers, later with an airball 3-point attempt in the fourth, closing 2 of 11 from beyond the arc.

Herro joins a field that also includes Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Darius Garland, Buddy Hield, Cam Johnson, Damian Lillard and Norman Powell.

Herro, who finished sixth in the event in 2023. becomes the fifth Heat player to appear multiple times in the event, joining James Jones (2012,  2011), Daequan Cook (2010, 2009), Glen Rice (1995, 1991) and Jon Sundvold (1990, 1989).

5. Last call?: While the Heat opened for the seventh consecutive game with a lineup of  Herro, Adebayo, Ware, Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson, that figures to change with the arrival of Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins likely will take the place of Highsmith in the first five, with Highsmith again a non-factor on offense, this tim scoreless, with 15 points during the four-game trip.