The one fixed with this season’s Miami Heat has been an abject lack of consistency.
Even with the beginning lineup once more complete initially, that sample continued in Friday evening’s 111-108 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers.
The final time the groups met, the Heat restricted rising Indiana guard Tyrese Halibruton to at least one level on 0-for-9 taking pictures in a Heat Dec. 12 victory in Indiana. This time, Haliburton erupted for a career-high 43 factors, together with the game-winning 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds to play.
Because in the case of the 2022-23 Heat having good issues, there clearly is a statute of limitations.
So six days after shifting above .500 for the primary time this season, the Heat dropped to 16-17 for his or her two-day Christmas break, now 0-2 on their four-game homestand.
With Jimmy Butler turning an ankle within the first half and compelled to take a seat late, the Heat lacked a counter to Haliburton, though Tyler Herro almost got here shut at closing time, tying it with a 3-pointer of his personal with 14.9 seconds to play, earlier than lacking a possible tying heave simply earlier than the buzzer.
Herro led the Heat with 28 factors, with Kyle Lowry scoring 21 and Bam Adebayo 18. Butler’s abbreviated 28-minute evening ended with 20 factors.
Five Degrees of Heat from Friday’s recreation:
1. Closing time: The Pacers led 31-28 on the finish of 1, paced by 14 first-quarter factors from Haliburton. The Heat then moved to a 58-56 halftime lead, earlier than Indiana responded to take an 84-82 benefit into the fourth.
A ten-2 run to open the fourth then staked Indiana to a 92-84 lead, the sport’s largest benefit to that time, a part of a 24-9 run going again to the third interval.
Indiana finally would construct its result in 12 with 4:34 to play, earlier than the Heat moved again inside 105-98 with 3:50 left.
A Haywood Highsmith driving layup then received the Heat inside 107-103 with 1:57 to play, with a pair of Herro free throws getting the Heat inside 108-105 with 34.3 seconds left.
Then, off an inbounds play with 16.9 seconds left, Herro seized the second along with his game-tying 3-pointer, solely to see Haliburton match it.
2. The actual deal: For solely the twelfth time, the Heat rolled out their projected preseason most well-liked lineup of Adebayo, Caleb Martin, Butler, Kyle Lowry and Herro.
Lowry had missed the earlier three video games, Martin the earlier two and Butler the earlier outing on Tuesday evening in opposition to the Bulls.
Coach Erik Spoelstra stated prudence required the group to present Lowry the previous week off.
“He always wants to play,” Spoelstra stated of his 36-year-old level guard. “But from my standpoint, when you see guys that you know are not moving the way that they’re capable of moving, you want to try to take care of it. I think these days have been really helpful.”
3. Rotation alternation: Even with Gabe Vincent energetic for the primary time in 9 video games following time missed with a knee ailment, he was not within the rotation, nor was Duncan Robinson.
Instead, the primary 4 off the Heat bench have been Victor Oladipo, Max Strus, Orlando Robinson and Highsmith.
Orlando Robinson performed as backup middle, forward of Nikola Jovic, with Dewayne Dedmon coping with ongoing foot soreness. Oladipo performed as a backup level guard as a substitute of Vincent.
4. Return engagement: After lacking Tuesday evening’s loss to the Bulls with a abdomen sickness, Butler returned to attain 12 factors within the first quarter, taking pictures 4 of 6 from the sphere and 4 of 5 from the road within the interval.
Butler had missed 12 of the Heat’s earlier 24 video games.
Butler’s early offense was wanted, with the Heat opening 1 of 8 on 3-pointers.
But as soon as he turned his ankle, Spoelstra’s choices once more have been restricted.
5. All hail Haliburton: Haliburton was as much as 30 factors by the tip of the third interval, already with a career-high eight 3-pointers. He closed 14 of 20 from the sphere, together with 10 of 16 on 3-pointers, additionally with seven assists.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com