Miami, FL
Sitting at .500 again, Miami Heat’s struggles have their season at an impasse
About a week ago, even amid Jimmy Butler rumors, the Miami Heat were enjoying their longest win streak of the season and hoping to maintain their turnaround to challenge in the Eastern Conference.
Now, they enter the holiday week having lost three in a row, with each loss highlighting a different concern. Blowing a 25-point lead against an injury-depleted Orlando Magic team certainly poses worries, even without Butler in the lineup.
Sealing the deal remains the point of the game, though.
Whether it’s closing out close games (1-6 in matchups decided by three or fewer points) or just beating good teams (5-8 against opponents .500 or better), the Heat are struggling to stand out in ways that broaden their margins. Stretches like the last three games have seen them blow an eight-point lead in overtime within two minutes (at the Detroit Pistons last Monday), lose the battle on the glass against one of the league’s worst rebounding teams (Oklahoma City on Friday) and score eight points in the final period against a team missing its two best players (Orlando on Saturday).
Even with Butler missing most of the last two games, those results aren’t reassuring. Against Detroit, he had a seemingly flawless game, but Miami still lost by one point. Coming close without the cigar is tough business for any team, but especially one capable of resembling playoff form one moment and suddenly collapsing by the next.
Entering Monday, Miami is still sixth in the East, but it’s closer to Play-In territory than consistently resembling teams who have either weathered storms without their best players (Orlando) or resemble new form after slow starts (Milwaukee is 15-12 after starting 2-8).
“Being able to close out games, a lot of that is my responsibility with Jimmy not here,” Tyler Herro said. “So I’ll be better on Monday and going forward.”
The Heat have an NBA-high six losses by one possession this season, which could pose ample regret down the stretch if the team remains on the outside looking in for postseason hopes. But beyond playing for the playoffs, rumors about Butler’s future make it even tougher to envision this team’s identity beyond this season. Miami has enjoyed great success since acquiring the six-time All-Star in 2019, but stretches like this past weekend illustrate the fine margins it must thrive with, with or without its star player.
On the season, Miami’s net rating swings by plus-8.7 points depending on Butler’s presence. The difference between him being on the court (plus-6.2 net rating) or on the bench (minus-2.5) is that of Miami being either seventh in the NBA or closer to 20th. But coach Erik Spoelstra won’t blame one variable for any loss, even if that variable has star power behind it.
Whether Butler is injured, ill or (rumored to be) traded, Spoelstra doesn’t dwell on narratives when it comes to wins or losses.
“I’m not thinking any other thought. If guys say they can go, we’re going right now,” Spoelstra said after Friday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, during which Butler played only seven minutes.
From examining depth (hello, extended Kel’el Ware minutes on Saturday!) to simply staying afloat until the team is fully healthy, the Heat will need to succeed at the edges to remain viable in the East playoff picture. No matter how the Butler saga shakes out, Miami will still be relying on Herro and Bam Adebayo to hold things down as Spoelstra remains focused on how to maximize his roster, possessions and, ultimately, the team’s season.
Matchups against teams like the Brooklyn Nets (11-17) can be chances for Miami to start another win streak or simply play its best game of the season, but it would still be only one win against a relative sea of confounding defeats. At this point, how well the Heat carries things from one game to the next will determine their season, but the real test will be how well they carry things from one quarter to the next.
One night, the Heat can beat the team with the NBA’s best record (Cleveland Cavaliers), and on others, they lose two road matchups by a combined three points to a team with Play-In ambitions (Detroit). Now at .500 again, Miami’s identity this season might be stuck somewhere in the middle. No matter how strong its glimpses of potential may seem, inexplicable lapses can only make it harder to maximize a path upward in the East standings or assess how to best retool for the future.
At this point, the best case for the team (and fans) is to simply take it all one day at a time.
(Photo of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson: Fernando Medina / Getty Images )
The University of Miami on Monday announced it will be the second U.S.-based site for Elon Musk’s Neuralink’s PRIME Study.
The PRIME study or Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface, monitors and test the safety and functionality of the Neuralink, which is an implant that allows for a wireless and digital link between a user’s brain and a computer.
Collaborating with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the Department of Neurological Surgery at UM, the goal of the Neuralink is to help patients with paralysis by allowing them to control connected devices with their thoughts.
“We are very excited about working with the Neuralink team. This announcement is a testament to our multidisciplinary approach for advancing the latest research in neural interfaces and neurorehabilitation,” said W. Dalton Dietrich, Ph.D., scientific director of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, co-director of the University of Miami Neural Engineering Institute and professor of neurological surgery at the Miller School.
As part of the study, Neuralink’s RI Robot, which is used for precision surgery, will also be evaluated.
The implant procedure will be overseen by Neuralink scientists, neurosurgeons and biomedical engineers at the School of Medicine.
“The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the University of Miami are renowned for their pioneering research in neural interfaces for the treatment of debilitating neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury and ALS. We look forward to partnering with them as a site for our PRIME Study,” said DJ Seo, co-founder, president and COO at Neuralink.
The study is looking for patients who have limited or no ability to use their hands because they suffered a cervical spinal cord injury or have ALS.
Miami, FL
Open House Miami returns offering look into city’s design, culture, community | Biscayne Bay Tribune#
Open House Miami (OHMIA) returns for its second annual celebration, set to showcase Greater Miami from Feb. 28 to Mar. 2, by highlighting its architectural connectivity.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, OHMIA 2025 promises a more expansive program with new themes, experiences and immersive encounters designed to engage the community and visitors in the spirit of Greater Miami’s architectural and cultural legacy.
Once again spearheaded by the Miami Center for Architecture and Design (MCAD) in collaboration with the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and a network of dedicated local partners, OHMIA 2025 invites the public to explore Miami-Dade County’s unique stories, spaces and design.
This year’s festival – open free and to the public – will offer over 100 curated experiences across more than 20 neighborhoods, supported by 100-plus partners. Attendees can expect an expanded array of tours, lectures, workshops and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to some of Greater Miami’s most iconic and hidden spaces.
“There are no shortages of special places throughout Greater Miami that create an engaging background for stories about our community to be shared and celebrated,” said David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Open House Miami and its focus on design and architecture is the perfect event to complement everything else our destination is known for – from fashion and food to culture and beaches.”
The festival will continue to explore popular themes from last year, such as Culture, Resilience, Building Miami, and Sports, while also introducing new focal points that celebrate Miami’s culture and history.
Highlights will include exclusive tours of the Kaseya Center; Museum of Graffiti; HipHop Museum; Istituto Marongoni; Frost Museum of Science; a Photo Walking Tour on Collins Avenue with Laura Paresky Gould, award-winning artist and graphic designer; a Skateboard Tour, as well as deep dives into Miami’s transformative neighborhoods and opportunities to engage with the city’s leading designers, artists, and tastemakers.
One of the new featured experiences will invite visitors to The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, designed by Miami-based architect Max Strang, a location that is rarely open to the public.
“We are proud to support the second annual Open House Miami Festival, inviting Miami Beach’s visitors and locals to experience the architecture, art and design that continues to make our city stand out as an award-winning destination,” said Grisette Marcos, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority executive director. “The hand-picked selection of interactive events, tours and discussions featuring expert personalities and talent will inspire attendees and showcase the artistic fabric of Miami Beach and the surrounding area. Travelers can start planning their trip to experience Open House Miami with assistance from our dedicated EXP Miami Beach Tours App.” The EXP Miami Beach Tours App is available on Apple and Google platforms.
Open House Miami was established in 2024, making Greater Miami the fourth U.S. destination, alongside New York, San Diego and Chicago, to join the global Open House Worldwide network. This movement celebrates architecture, design and urbanism by creating opportunities for citizens to engage with and appreciate their city’s-built environment in a way that’s transparent, inclusive and community-focused.
For the latest updates on Open House Miami 2025, visit www.openhousemia.org/.
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For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
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