Miami, FL

Decisions resume for Heat, decisions that could hold the season in the balance

Published

2 years ago

February 22, 2024

Decisions resume for Heat, decisions that could hold the season in the balance

MIAMI – The midseason malaise is undeniable in the NBA, the period between Christmas and the All-Star break. This season, it felt even more pronounced, with the league juicing up the early portion of the schedule with the In-Season Tournament.

But now, except for the lottery languishers, it is go time, a two-month sprint to the playoffs, which now are just eight weeks away.

For the Miami Heat, it resumes in the most challenging fashion, a four-game trip that opens Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans and then concludes in an NBA Finals rematch next Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.

The concern is the questions that remain, from the injury status of Terry Rozier (knee) to Josh Richardson (shoulder), as well as cohesion yet to be fully developed, with 29 lineups having been put into play over the first 15 games, featuring a total of 16 starters.

1. Is the roster finally set?

A. Even with the buyout-market addition of Delon Wright, there appears to be at least one more move that is possible.

Should the Heat waive the contract of Dru Smith ahead of the April 14 regular-season finale, they could add another playoff-eligible player to the postseason roster. Smith, on an expiring contract, is out for the season following December knee surgery.

In fact, if the Heat make such a move by March 3, the deadline for signing a two-way player, they then could add another two-way player into their developmental pipeline.

2. Is the roster complete?

A: That is a subtle difference from the thought above. Moving one of the two-way players to a standard deal, such as Jamal Cain, and adding a two-way player wouldn’t necessarily make the Heat whole.

What this team still lacks is a big body behind Bam Adebayo to wrestle with the biggest of big men in the playoffs, the type of players the Heat added in previous playoff runs in Dewayne Dedmon and Cody Zeller.

Such an addition, if available, could prove prudent considering the size of some of the East competition.

Players waived by other teams by March 1 or those who have not been in the NBA this season beyond 10-day contracts, are eligible to be signed any time before the regular-season finale to be playoff eligible.

3. And the playoff starting lineup will be?

A: Beyond Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, it could prove fluid.

That even could be the case with Rozier after he returns from his knee strain. Should Erik Spoelstra initially play Rozier off the bench upon his return, it would allow for experimentation without the look of a demotion.

The third wing beyond Herro and Butler could wind up being a defender (Caleb Martin?) or a spacer (Duncan Robinson?).

As for power forward, that could well prove to be matchup based, since you might not go the same way in the playoffs against Jayson Tatum as Giannis Antetokounmpo at the four.

4. Will the play-in be avoided?

A: That well could come down to the final two games of the season, a pair of matchups at Kaseya Center against the Toronto Raptors, who could be thoroughly disinterested by then.

But the single biggest factor in the equation of play-in or no play-in likely will be how much Butler pushes himself through a closing schedule that still has five remaining back-to-back sets, all of which involve travel.

So pace himself to the regular-season finish line?

Or push to be guaranteed at least five days off the week of April 14 as others compete in the play-in bracket?

5. What will be the swing votes when it comes to the final record?

A: Three games remain against the Detroit Pistons; those must be maximized. There also are two games apiece remaining against the Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards and Raptors, as well as single games against the back-end-of-the-standings Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. Victories in those 11 (although nothing with this Heat team can be assumed), would assure at least 41 wins.

From there, anything else in the other 16 remaining games would get the Heat above .500. The question is, to what degree? Last season it took 45-37 to secure No. 6, the spot above the play-in bracket, with a similar win percentage currently holding that spot this season.

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Miami, FL

Orlando 2-4 Miami (2 Mar, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN

Published

20 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Orlando 2-4 Miami (2 Mar, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN

ORLANDO, Fla. — Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-goal second half, defender Telasco Segovia added a goal and two assists and defending champion Inter Miami CF rallied to beat Orlando City SC 4-2 on Sunday night, winning for the first time at Inter&Co Stadium.

Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to tie it 2-2, and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th.

“The victory belongs exclusively to the players,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game. “In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year.

“In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs.”

Messi’s first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his past 49 appearances. It also brought the reigning MLS MVP to 898 career goals scored, including 672 for Barcelona and 115 for Argentina.

“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”

Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.

Inter Miami players celebrate after scoring a goal against Orlando City in MLS.

Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.

Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti’s first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance.

Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.

Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami, but let in a soft goal for Orlando’s first.

Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.

Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City’s next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.

Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to LAFC.

Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.

Inter Miami plays D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Field. Orlando City is also on the road with a match against New York City FC.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.

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Miami, FL

Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Published: March 1, 2026 at 6:22 PM

Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Much-needed rain fell across South Florida on Sunday, but the downpour quickly led to flooding and traffic headaches.

“The drainage systems aren’t the best but in ten minutes it will be gone,” one person said.

The rain lasted longer than 10 minutes, flooding several spots along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

In one neighborhood, at least a foot of water blocked the entrance. Drivers who attempted to pass through sent waves crashing onto nearby sidewalks.

The heavy rain also snarled traffic on parts of Interstate 95 and on the bridges to and from Miami Beach, slowing drivers trying to get around the area.

“It’s Miami for you. What do they call it, a sun shower?” one driver said.

The weather disrupted Sunday plans for many. The 26th annual Miami Heat Family Festival was cut short after strong winds swept through Dan Paul Plaza, knocking over several tents.

There is no word yet on how or when the Miami Heat plan to make up the family festival.

Brett Knese

Brett Knese joined the Local 10 News team as a general assignment reporter in March 2025.

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Miami, FL

Miami youth trace Bahamian roots in powerful Black History Month journey

Published

2 days ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Miami youth trace Bahamian roots in powerful Black History Month journey

Jack and Jill of America’s Miami chapter closed out Black History Month with an inaugural “Roots Across Waters” trip to Nassau, where families explored ancestral sites, honored the Bahamian labor that helped build early Miami, and donated Afro‑Caribbean children’s books to local students.

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