Winderman’s view: With Rozier back as a spark in reserve in loss, has he found his Heat place?

Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 106-103 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks:

– At times Tuesday night, even as Damian Lillard was lighting it up for the Bucks, you could see some of the fits for the Heat.

– Pelle Larsson again injected energy.

– Kel’el Ware entered in the third quarter when Bam Adebayo was in foul trouble and Kevin Love was out with back spasms.

– And then there was Terry Rozier, who returned from his two-game injury absence as a reserve.

– For just the second time with the Heat.

– Playing as seventh man.

– With Erik Spoelstra almost having to go out of his way to get him back in the second half, entering late in the third period.

– From there, Rozier offered a reminder of what he can be.

– The type of instant offense embraced from the second unit.

– It was his scoring that set up the fight to the finish.

– Now, does he flourish in such a role?

– Or seek what had been his?

– No, the Heat starting lineup was not great in this one.

– But it had been better as of late, as Rozier sat.

– Even more significant was how the bench had come together.

– When Rozier was added last season it was as starter.

– Now there is a bench dynamic to consider.

– One now counting Larsson as a rotation player.

– One that also has gotten routine boosts from Alec Burks.

– So a fit that has been found?

– Or a rotation that remains work in progress.

– Don’t expect a deep freeze similar to where Josh Richardson stands.

– And even where Nikola Jovic stood Tuesday.

– But the Rozier part of the equation likely requires deeper thought.

– Even with Rozier back from a two-game absence due to foot pain, the Heat for a third consecutive game remained with a starting lineup of Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro.

– Entering 2-0 with that first five.

– Before the game, Spoelstra said of Rozier’s role, “Like everybody, you have to just do what’s best for the team. Right now, nothing is in concrete. We’re not where we want to be. That’s the bottom line.”

– Rozier had struggled before his two-game layoff.

– “We know what he’s capable of,” Spoelstra said. “And he knows it, as well. It’s not like we have to design something for him. He was playing great before. It’s just a matter of getting his body feeling good, getting comfortable again.”

– Spoelstra added, “I fully expect him to be back to being aggressive and giving us that X-factor.”

– As expected, Highsmith opened defensively on Lillard.

– Love was first off the Heat bench.

– Rozier was second, entering for Robinson with 4:36 to play in the opening period.

– Larsson was third, spelling Highsmith defensively against Damian Lillard.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. followed to make it nine deep for the Heat.

– And Burks as the fifth substitute.

– That left Jovic and Richardson out of the initial mix.

– In fact, when Spoelstra went deeper, it was Ware entering midway through in the third period after Adebayo was called for his fourth foul.

– That came with Love lost for the night due to back spasms.

– Herro extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 54, surpassing the longest previous such streak of his career. His previous longest streak had been 53 such games in 2020-21.

– Herro extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 45 dating to last season. His previous longest such streak had been 38 games in 2021-22.

– Adebayo made it six consecutive games with a 3-pointer.

– The game opened the second of the Heat’s 15 back-to-back sets this season, which concludes Wednesday night in Charlotte. The Heat split their previous back-to-back, losing in Indiana and then returning home to defeat the 76ers.

– This time it was Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) being out for the opposition after the Mavericks were without Luka Doncic (wrist) in the Heat’s Sunday home victory.

– Antetokounmpo remains on a streak of 16 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points on 50% or better shooting, the longest such streak of his career.

– The Heat also will face a shorthanded opponent Wednesday night in Charlotte.

– The Hornets are listing as out Miles Bridges (knee), DaQuan Jeffries (hand), Tre Mann (back), Nick Richards (rib), Grant Williams (knee) and Mark Williams (foot).