Winderman’s view: Gritty, grimy and necessary as Heat offer Orlando payback

ORLANDO — Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 89-88 victory over the Orlando Magic:

– Because this is who they are.

– And who they have to be.

– Tyler Herro with the dramatics.

– And a lot of grit and grime otherwise.

– Even with Jimmy Butler.

– Or, in this case, without.

– No, not pretty.

– But needed.

– Especially after a day of Butler-a-go-go.

– Granted the Magic were without their two best players.

– But who is going to be picky after what happened last time in this building?

– No, this team does not score with grace or ease.

– Especially amid a struggle like Bam Adebayo’s in this one.

– But the supporting pieces supported.

– With all due credit to Alec Burks, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Terry Rozier.

– Now more.

– Please.

– With this team, it’s going to take a village.

– Like the one that got into the gutter on Thursday night.

– With what it took.

– After going with a big lineup in the teams’ previous meeting Saturday in Orlando, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stayed with Monday night’s opening lineup of Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson and Herro.

– That with Butler out for a third consecutive game following his stomach illness.

– The Heat had started Nikola Jovic and Dru Smith in the teams’ previous meeting, with Highsmith and Jaquez playing off the bench in that game.

– Smith tore his Achilles in Monday night’s victory over the Nets and is now out for the season.

– The Magic this time started Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tristan da Silva, Trevelin Queen and Goga Bitadze.

– Suggs was not available in the previous matchup.

– Spoelstra had spoken in the wake of Saturday’s loss in Orlando of matching up with the larger lineup the Magic started that night, one not utilized Thursday.

– “It all depends,” Spoelstra said of matching an opponent’s lineup. “So each game is case by case. We’ll do whatever we feel is necessary.”

– Spoelstra added, “Whatever lineup we go with, it’s about competing collectively at a high level and then sustaining it.”

– That did not prove to be the case, with the Heat down 16-0 at Thursday’s outset, opening with five turnovers and 0 for 5 from the field.

– That had Rozier entering for Jaquez.

– And then Jovic entering for Robinson.

– Rozier had been questionable hours earlier due to the knee pain that had him out for Monday night’s victory over the Nets.

– The next two Heat substitutes were Kel’el Ware and Burks.

– Herro extended his career-best streak of games scoring in double figures to 58. His previous high was 38 in a row.

– Herro also extended his career best streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 62, seven games off Robinson’s franchise record.

– Herro has now converted a 3-pointer in the season’s first 28 games, tying the longest such Heat 3-pointer streak to open a season, set in 1998-99 by Tim Hardaway.

– Jaquez’s second steal was the 100th of his career.

– Spoelstra said pregame he would have no issue starting Isaiah Stevens the same day he signed his two-way contract Thursday.

– “I’m very comfortable with him,” Spoelstra said.

– Herro said at the morning shootaround the Heat were aware of the challenge ahead.

– “That’s a great team over there,” he said of the Magic, “a great defense with young guys that really play hard. So, we have to be ready.”