Winderman’s view: Duncan Robinson as Damian Lillard? Sort of in Heat win in Charlotte

Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 98-94 victory over the Charlotte Hornets:

– This is why you need specialists.

– Because sometimes you need a spark.

– Duncan Robinson was that specialist Wednesday night.

– And he provided the exact spark the Heat needed on the second night of a back-to-back.

– Not quite what Damian Lillard did at the outset Tuesday night against the Heat for the Bucks.

– But close.

– And needed.

– On a night Jimmy Butler took a while to get going.

– Before emulating Robinson’s 3-point shooting.

– So make it 3-1 now with Robinson as a starter this season.

– Coach Erik Spoelstra staying with that lineup even after Tuesday night’s loss.

– With Robinson, it provides an alternative to all-or-nothing from Tyler Herro when it comes to 3-pointers.

– Because on this night, while Robinson was on, Herro was off.

– Yes, there are the ongoing defensive concerns with that first five, Robinson and Herro together..

– But Butler, Bam Adebayo and Haywood Highsmith handle that in this lineup.

– And, heck, Robinson even stayed out of foul trouble this time.

– As with Lillard for the Bucks a night earlier, without Robinson early in this one, who knows how it otherwise could have ended.

– He created a needed buffer.

– And, so, a welcomed win heading into Thanksgiving.

– It was the 250th regular-season start for Robinson.

– It also was the 200th career regular-season double-figure scoring effort for Robinson.

– So, for now, Terry Rozier continues in reserve.

– Of Rozier, Spoelstra said pregame, “We really love Terry, what he brings. He’s a dynamic offensive player. When he’s healthy and feeling comfortable, that’s where we want to get him, is feeling comfortable, in whatever role.”

– Spoelstra added of Rozier’s role, “It doesn’t really matter. We need that type of offensive punch that he can give us.”

– This time nothing like Tuesday night’s closing burst from Rozier.

– But also not needed.

– The game was Herro’s 300th regular-season appearance.

– The Heat were without Kevin Love, due to the back spasms that became an issue in Tuesday night’s loss to the Bucks.

– “He’s dealt with it before and we’ll see how he feels when we get back,” Spoelstra said, with the Raptors up next on Friday at Kaseya Center.

– Rozier and Kel’el Ware entered together as the Heat’s first two substitutes.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson followed together for nine deep.

– With Alec Burks making it 10 deep.

– Spoelstra said going in that consistency remained the goal.

– “I mean,” he said, “I feel like a lot of teams right now are searching for that consistency. Can we sustain a level of play? And for us, sometimes it’s imposing our will at the beginning of the game, making sure we set the tone. Sometimes, it’s third quarter. It’s different parts of the game where we’re trying to find that consistency.”

– He added, “It’s not exclusive to us. We know what our important factors are. This is a good challenge for us tonight on a back-to-back. They’re an explosive offensive team. We know what they’re capable of. And you have to really embrace and love these kind of challenges.”

– Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball entered as the first Hornets player to ever score 35 or more in three consecutive games.

– “I just think he’s on a great roll right now,” Spoelstra said ahead of the game. “He’s putting it all together. But he’s been great in other seasons, too. It was a matter of health in the previous seasons.”

– The game concluded the second of the Heat’s 15 back-to-back sets this season, after losing Tuesday night at home to the Bucks.

– The Heat split their previous back-to-back, losing in Indiana and then returning home to defeat the 76ers.

– The Heat’s next back-to-back set is Sunday in Toronto and Monday in Boston.

– The victory moved Spoelstra within one win of tying Nate McMillan for 18th on the all-time regular-season wins list.