Winderman’s view: Heat’s Kel’el Ware offers statement in win against rookie rival

Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 119-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans:

– When it came to rookie big men Wednesday night at Kaseya Center, the hype clearly was with Pelicans center Yves Missi, the No. 21 pick out of Baylor.

– Entering the night, Missi stood first among rookies in double-doubles and rebounds per game, third in blocks per game.

– Such are the benefits of playing time.

– Albeit while losing.

– By contrast, Heat first-round pick Kel’el Ware, the No. 15 pick out of Indiana, has largely had to bide his time.

– But Wednesday, as the Heat regained control in the third quarter, Ware showed the value of his size and length.

– The alley-oop threat is real.

– With an early 3-pointer showing that threat, as well.

– Yes, still some rookie mistakes, and not exactly expert at protecting the paint.

– But there is something there.

– And it figures to stay there ahead of Kevin Love in the rotation.

– Making buying time easier in the minutes Bam Adebayo dares to sit.

– The better of the two between Missi and Ware? Closer than the numbers show.

– With Jimmy Butler and Duncan Robinson back, the Heat went back to their starting lineup of Butler, Robinson, Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Haywood Highsmith.

– Butler had missed the previous five games due to illness, Robinson the previous game due to strained right foot.

– Terry Rozier was an active scratch due to his suspension.

– With Rozier being suspended and Herro being fined for Sunday’s melee in Houston, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked pregame for his thoughts on the sanctions.

– “It doesn’t really matter. At this point, what does it matter?” Spoelstra said. “I’m going to say something, the league’s going to change? We’re past that now. We’ll deal with it.”

– Spoelstra said Butler entered ready for his moment.

– “It was good that he was able to get a couple of workouts while we were gone and then practice yesterday,” Spoelstra said. “And then we’ll just read it in real time and see how he manages everything.”

– Going in, Spoelstra said it remained about developing consistency for his team.

– “We’re just trying to build a consistency,” Spoelstra said, “build on some kind of momentum, see if we can sustain. Guys take everything to heart, that’s what I really commend and like about this group. They work at it. And some of these really tough experiences I think benefit you, as long as you’re approaching it the right way.”

– The shorthanded Pelicans opened with a lineup of Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy and Missi.

– Alec Burks and Nikola Jovic entered together as the Heat’s first two substitutes.

– With Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. following together.

– Herro extended his career-best streak of games scoring in double figures to 61. His previous high was 38 in a row.

– Herro has now converted a 3-pointer in the season’s first 31 games, having previously broken the longest such Heat 3-pointer streak to open a season, of 28 set in 1998-99 by Tim Hardaway.

– Adebayo’s third point was the 8,000th of his career.

–  Jovic’s first 3-pointer was the 100th of his career.

– The game opened the Heat’s seventh of the Heat’s back-to-back sets this  season, hosting the Pacers on Thursday night,

– The Heat oddly entered 1-5 on the first nights of such sets and 3-3 on the second nights, including Sunday’s loss in Houston.

– The game also was the start of the second four instances this season with home games on consecutive days, having won against the Suns and Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on Dec. 7-8.

– The Heat have played home games on consecutive days 39 previous times in the franchise’s 37 seasons, winning both games 13 times, splitting the pair 17 times and dropping both on nine occasions.

– With former Gators standout Corey Brewer now a Pelicans assistant, it meant a reunion with Butler and Highsmith, with the three teammates with the 76ers in 2018-19.

– Additionally, Brewer and Heat big man Kevin Love were teammates on two separate occasions at Minnesota.

– Among those on the Pelicans roster is former Heat two-way player Jamal Cain, who now is on a New Orleans two-way deal.

– Cain spoke with several former Heat teammates at midcourt during pregame warmups.