It is one factor being compelled to play to each final breath. The Miami Heat seemingly have constructed their season on such a close-game premise.
It is one other factor to do it at mile-high altitude.
That raised the ante Friday night time in opposition to the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
That, regardless of an eight-point fourth-quarter lead, additionally left the Heat gasping on the end in what became a 124-119 loss in the beginning of a five-game journey that continues Saturday night time in opposition to the Utah Jazz.
“We needed to get some critical stops,” Heat guard Max Strus mentioned, “and we didn’t do it.”
In the decisive fourth quarter, when the Heat have been outscored 39-29, the Nuggets shot .812 from the sphere, together with 5 of 5 on 3-pointers, in addition to 8 of 10 on 3-pointers.
“In the fourth quarter they just got basically anything,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned.
“We pride ourselves in being able to find a way to win games with defensive stops going down the stretch and I can’t recall a stop in the last three or four minutes. I’m sure maybe there was one, but I just don’t remember it. It seemed like they were scoring or getting fouled on every single one of those possessions.”
With Nuggets guard Jamal Murray taking management late, the Nuggets improved to 23-12, with the Heat falling again to .500 at 18-18.
“The thing about it,” Heat middle Bam Adebayo mentioned, “we don’t want to be mediocre. We don’t want to be in the middle of the pack. So it’s on us to get on the film and review what went wrong.”
Heat guard Tyler Herro led all scorers with 26 factors, with Adebayo including 22 factors, Strus 19 and Jimmy Butler 17.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic recorded his eighth triple-double of the season, closing with 19 factors, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
Five Degrees of Heat from Friday’s recreation:
1. Closing time: The Heat trailed 23-19 on the finish of the primary quarter, after capturing 6 of 29 within the opening interval, the Heat’s lowest capturing share in any interval this season.
The Nuggets then led 60-57 at halftime, regardless of capturing .632 within the first half to the Heat’s .388.
From there, with Adebayo and Herro mixed for the Heat’s first 23 factors of the third quarter, the Heat took a 90-85 lead into the fourth.
The Heat would go up eight early within the fourth, with the Nuggets regaining the lead halfway by way of the ultimate interval by regularly drawing Kyle Lowry into defensive mismatches.
Then, with the Heat down 115-114, Herro was fouled on a 3-point try, with video evaluation upgrading the decision in opposition to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a flagrant foul.
Herro transformed all three free throws for a 117-115 Heat lead, with the Heat unable to attain when retaining possession.
A Murray 3-pointer adopted for a 118-117 Denver lead, the Nuggets’ seventeenth 3-pointer, with a pair of free throws by Murray pushing the result in 120-117. Murray then transformed a jumper to make it 122-117 with 1 minute to play, successfully ending it.
“They were able to get whatever they wanted, whether it was Jokic doing what he does or spray threes, guys getting downhill,” Herro mentioned. “They’re a good offense. They’re a tough team to guard. So if you don’t make them uncomfortable and take away some of their strengths, then they can start hitting you from everywhere.”
2. The again story: With Friday night time’s recreation opening a back-to-back set at altitude, the Heat took a measured method with participant availability.
Victor Oladipo was given Friday off, knee points nonetheless stopping him from taking part in back-to-back units.
Butler, against this, is predicted to be off Saturday, with the hope that this would be the final time power knee soreness will preserve him from taking part in back-to-backs.
The Heat’s subsequent back-to-back set is Feb. 9-10, at dwelling in opposition to the Houston Rockets after which on the Orlando Magic.
In addition to Oladipo being rested Friday, the Heat have been with out Caleb Martin, attributable to a quadriceps pressure; Dewayne Dedmon, attributable to NBA health-and-safety protocols; and Omer Yurtseven, who’s recovering from November ankle surgical procedure.
Beyond Butler, it’s doable that 36-year-old Lowry additionally will get Saturday off.
“Obviously a quick turnaround,” guard Duncan Robinson mentioned. “So we got to show some toughness, mental toughness, to bounce back.”
3. A brand new line: With Martin out, it meant the Heat nonetheless have been capable of open with their most well-liked beginning lineup solely 12 occasions this season, the quintet of Adebayo, Butler, Martin, Lowry and Herro.
Friday, actually, marked the ninth consecutive recreation the Heat opened with a distinct lineup.
The final time the Heat featured the identical beginning 5 in consecutive video games was Dec. 8 in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers and Dec. 10 in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs.
Haywood Highsmith began instead of Martin, his third begin of the season. Highsmith is one in all 12 Heat gamers who’ve began at the least one recreation.
4. Record night time: Robinson transformed his first two 3-point makes an attempt within the second interval to tie Tim Hardaway’s Heat profession 3-point file.
Robinson was 2 of two on 3-pointers at a stage when the rest of his teammates have been 4 of 12.
Then, with 11:32 to play, Robinson stroked his third 3-pointer to place himself atop the Heat all-time record.
“You want to do it in a win, for sure,” Robinson mentioned. “So that’s disappointing. But I just feel very fortunate and blessed to get it. A lot of people contributed to it, certainly not just myself. So I’m grateful for that. I’ll definitely take a second to just appreciate it.”
5. Bench increase: On an evening the Heat bench was restricted as a result of absences of Oladipo and Dedmon, Strus and two-way participant Orlando Robinson each helped the Heat purchase wanted time.
Robinson closed with 13 factors, going 4 of 5 from the sphere and 5 of 6 from the foul line, with 5 rebounds in his 18 minutes.
Strus completed 7 of 13 from the sphere, 4 of 5 on 3-pointers.
“We’ve been in a bunch of close games and each game has a new challenge,” Strus mentioned. “So we’ll keep learning from it and hopefully bounce back from it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com