Winderman’s view: Heat get it done at closing time against Dallas, finally

Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 123-118 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks:

– This was the game the Heat couldn’t close out against the Kings at home.

– The game they couldn’t close out against the Suns on the road.

– This time, the endgame was the Heat’s game.

– Closer to what happened in Minnesota.

– Which means something.

– Because it’s not as if this team has much when it comes to margin for error.

– It requires the best of Jimmy Butler.

– Check.

– Bam Adebayo stepping up.

– Such as the late defensive stop on Kyrie Irving and then the 3-pointer.

– (We’ll forget the other 3-pointer that hit the side of the backboard).

–  And a play call from Erik Spoelstra executed to perfection.

– In this case, Butler’s basket at the end of regulation.

– So a step forward.

– And a move to .500.

– Needed.

– Because it didn’t get easier when Terry Rozier was out with a recurring foot issue.

– When Haywood Highsmith left in the second half due to illness.

– When Duncan Robinson was called for a foul seemingly at every turn.

– The Heat could not have been handed a better break than Luka Doncic being sidelined.

– Of course they also were handed ample open shots from point blank.

– And ample free throws.

– Off.

– And clank.

– Still, found a way.

– With Rozier out again, the Heat again opened with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Highsmith, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Robinson.

– Of lineup continuity or the lack thereof, Spoelstra said ahead of the game, “I think the most important thing right now is whatever’s working for us, we’ve got to look into that right now. We’re not where we want to be. And that doesn’t mean that we shut the door on anything else.”

– He added, “We’re trying to find some consistency, some sustainability in our game, just like every other team in the East except for the two top teams.”

– Kevin Love and Alec Burks entered first together off the Heat bench.

– Then Pelle Larsson.

– And then Jaime Jaquez Jr.

– With Nikola Jovic in at the start of the second period to make it 10 deep.

– But Jovic also only playing a cameo role.

– And Josh Richardson no role at all.

– Herro extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 53, tying the longest such streak of his career.

– Herro extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 44 dating to last season. His previous longest such streak had been 38 games in 2021-22.

– Herro’s fourth field goal was the 2,000th of his career.

– The double-digit-scoring effort moved Butler past Grant Long for 12th on the Heat’s such all-time list.

– Burks’ third 3-pointer was the 900th of his career.

– Butler’s first steal tied Eddie Jones for seventh on the Heat all-time list.

– Keshad Johnson made it to Miami at 2:30 p.m., after waking at 5 a.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D., and connecting through Chicago from his G League game the night before.

– “It’s been fun to watch the games and the highlights of the ones we haven’t been able to catch live,” Spoelstra said of Johnson’s Skyforce games. “He’s played well on both ends of the court.”

– Johnson did not play.

– The Heat entered coming off a five-day break.

– “If you have an opportunity like this, you do want to move the needle,” coach Erik Spoelstra said going in. “Hopefully we did that, but it’s also good to get back on the routine of playing games.”