Miami, FL
Takeaways From The Miami Heat’s Overtime Loss To The Milwaukee Bucks
The Miami Heat lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime last night, dropping them to 35-43 for the season. They are the tenth seed in the East, half a game behind the ninth seed and 1.5 games behind the eighth seed.
Here are some takeaways from the game:
What happened to the defense?
The Bucks finished this game taking about twice as many shots within four feet of the basket as the Heat did. Additionally, they weren’t far off from converting on three times as many at the rim, despite the Heat finishing with four times as many offensive rebounds.
For as dominant as Giannis Antetokounmpo still is, allowing the Bucks to take get up 49 percent of their overall shots near the rim is unacceptable if you’re the Heat. That number ranks in the 98th percentile.
Throughout the win streak, the Heat’s defense served as a foundation that propelled them to control games once the offense came around. Last night, the Heat gave up a 107 offensive rating in the halfcourt (77th percentile) and allowed Kevin Porter Jr. to finish with 24 points on eight-of-16 shooting. More consequentially, Antetokounmpo and Porter combined for 21 free throw attempts as well as an 18-to-three assist-to-turnover ratio.
Trying to fill in the void
It’s tough to shell out much criticism for the Heat on the offensive side of the floor, despite the Heat finishing the game with a 30th percentile offensive rating. Without Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic, the veterans stepped up to take on the load. Alec Burks finished with 24 points. Davion Mitchell finished with 24 points and five assists. Kyle Anderson added 12 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. Duncan Robinson added 16 points and three assists.
Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo went toe-to-toe with Antetokounmpo, finishing with 31 points, (including three made threes), 12 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. He ultimately finished converting on just four of his thirteen combined shots between the paint and mid-range, which is typically where he’s most effective.
It was a valiant effort but not enough, especially down the stretch, where the Heat converted on just 10 of their 27 shots (37 percent) between the fourth quarter and overtime.
A player who spent most of the 2025 season with College Football Playoff finalist Miami has now joined the Indiana program ahead of the national championship game.
Tight end Brock Schott was with the Hurricanes until Jan. 2 when he entered the NCAA transfer portal as Miami was still in the playoff.
Last week, he committed to the Hoosiers, before they went on to make the national title game, too.
Schott announced on Jan. 5 that he was joining the Indiana program.
The addition of Schott could give the Hoosiers an advantage as the freshman from Indiana knows the Miami playbook, as well as the team’s signals.
Brock Schott appeared in two games for Miami this season, catching a pair of passes for 24 yards. Both of his catches came in a 45-3 win over Bethune-Cookman.
Prior to joining the Miami program, Schott was a four-star recruit who was one of the top tight end prospects in the country.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound player caught 28 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at Leo High School. He also played defense, recording 52 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 11 games.
Schott had an even better season as a junior, catching 35 passes for 743 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he had 32 tackles for loss and 19 sacks as a junior.
Miami and Indiana are set to meet in the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Rumors have swirled around Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball for several seasons, recently heating up ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Despite coming into the season with a promising young core, headlined by the All-Star guard, Charlotte’s struggles have persisted.
Ball has been largely inefficient in a new-look rotation, shooting just 41% from the field, tying the second-lowest mark of his career thus far. Monitoring teams around the league, several suitors could offer enticing returns for Ball, but one Eastern Conference club is one of the more sensible destinations for the Hornets guard: the Miami Heat. Here’s a mock trade that sees Ball moved to South Beach:
Charlotte Hornets-Miami Heat Mock Trade & Fantasy Basketball Impact
Charlotte Hornets receive Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontecchio, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick
Miami Heat receive LaMelo Ball
A trade to a consistent playoff contender could help Ball overcome lasting narratives that have surrounded the star point guard. Fans, media personnel and coaches alike have speculated over Ball’s commitment and ability to buy in throughout his career, something that could be overcome with a trade to the Heat.
In Miami, Ball could contribute to a winning culture for a team prepared to re-enter title contention after moving on from Jimmy Butler last season. The Heat would roll out a big-three consisting of Ball, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, a trio that has the potential to emerge as one of the top in the NBA.
From a fantasy basketball standpoint, his stock could take a noticeable leap in an improved situation. Ball would take on greater scoring responsibility, while retaining his role as the offense’s primary ball-handler. With two co-stars and a plethora of perimeter shooters, he could overcome an inconsistent start to the season and hit his stride down the stretch of the year.
Why The Hornets Make The Trade
While Ball has brought his stardom to the Hornets, the team has struggled throughout his career, failing to reach the postseason in his first six seasons. Charlotte has pieced together a promising young wing duo of Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, two key contributors for the Hornets to build around as they establish an improved culture over the next several seasons. While he’s just 24 years old, I’m not confident Ball fits alongside this hypothetical new-look Hornets club, considering previous frustrations with the team.
Why The Heat Make The Trade
Miami has sought a trade for a star player to help the team return to title contention, a billing that Ball fits perfectly. He presents a consistent floor general to help the Heat’s offense overcome a slow start to the season, ranking 20th in the NBA in defensive rating to this point of the season (114.8). I love Ball’s fit alongside the likes of Herro and Adebayo, taking pressure off the two All-Stars with consistent playmaking and versatile scoring ability. The Ball-led Heat would be set up for title contention over the next several years.
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