Observations and different notes of curiosity from Friday evening’s 111-108 loss to the Indiana Pacers:
– Who can’t have good issues for Christmas?
– The Heat.
– Who can also’t have a complete and wholesome lineup for any sort of tolerating interval.
– This time, it was as desired on the outset, with Bam Adebayo, Caleb Martin, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro taking the courtroom for the opening bounce.
– For solely the twelfth time this season.
– And then Butler turned an ankle within the first half.
– And momentum was misplaced.
– So now extra harm updates dominating the season.
– When it appeared drawback solved.
– As it was, Friday marked the sixth time in as many video games that the Heat opened with a unique lineup.
– So, for less than the twelfth time this season, the Heat rolled out their projected preseason most well-liked lineup.
– 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 mentioned prudence required the group to provide Lowry the previous week off.
– “He’s also been able to work, also, behind the scenes,” Spoelstra mentioned. “I think that’ll be helpful.”
– With the beginning, Lowry moved previous Mark Eaton, Terry Cummings and Rolando Blackman for 97th on the NBA all-time record, at 815, tying Stephon Marbury for 96th.
– With his first conversion, Lowry prolonged his streak of at the least one 3-pointer to twenty-eight video games. His profession finest is 34 such video games whereas with the Raptors.
– The sport was the two hundredth regular-season look of Herro’s profession.
– Herro’s third level moved him previous Brian Grant for nineteenth on the Heat all-time scoring record.
– Herro’s third 3-pointer moved him previous Dwyane Wade for seventh place on the Heat all-time record.
– Butler’s third free throw moved him previous Otis Thorpe for 84th on the NBA all-time record.
– Butler’s third help tied him with Eddie Jones for ninth on the Heat all-time record.
– The Pacers opened with Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner.
– The Heat, nevertheless, weren’t wholly complete, significantly within the center, with Dewayne Dedmon sidelined by his ongoing foot soreness. That was with Omer Yurtseven lengthy sidelined from November ankle surgical procedure.
– But guard Gabe Vincent was again obtainable, after lacking the earlier eight video games with knee soreness.
– Spoelstra was the prolonged stretch of inactivity was required with Vincent.
– “Those are things that if you’re not moving well and you have some kind of ailment, it can get worse,” Spoelstra mentioned. “And we all met about it. We wanted to take care of it right where it was. Thankfully, it didn’t need any kind of procedure, anything. It just needed rest and then a ramp up.”
– Spoelstra added, “And he’s passed every test to get to this point. And we just want to keep him feeling good. And we’ll see how he continues to respond. He’s had some really good work.”
– In addition to Dedmon and Yurtseven, rookie ahead Jamal Cain was inactive, as a way of preserving the remaining video games he can on the lively record underneath the 50-game restrict of his two-way contract.
– Victor Oladipo performed because the Heat’s first reserve.
– Max Strus adopted.
– With Orlando Robinson taking part in as backup heart in Dedmon’s absence.
– Haywood Highsmith then made it 9 deep, forward of Vincent and Duncan Robinson.
– Strus provided pregame vacation greetings from midcourt.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com