DENVER – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 103-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets:
– This ability to remain competitive with anyone and anything that happens to be available is impressive, and has been for weeks.
– But ultimate success still is predicated on having everyone.
– This time, it was no Tyler Herro or Kevin Love.
– As well as still no Josh Richardson.
– All as Nikola Jovic continues to get worked into a rotation.
– And as Haywood Highsmith moves toward being an outsider.
– Smoke, mirrors, zone defensive, timely 3-pointers are great when it comes to sustaining a season.
– But the sooner the Heat get to see Herro back with this mix, the sooner we’ll know.
– Especially as the Heat sort out the precise fit with Terry Rozier.
– Whose aggression kept the Heat afloat in this one.
– The Heat now with an attacker when Jimmy Butler dares take a rest.
– Certainly a heartening trip.
– But lessons still to be learned.
– With ample components for something yet further compelling.
– Something beyond grasping for a postseason spot beyond the play-in.
– The Heat’s lineup count for the season remained at a franchise-record-tying 31, opening for the second consecutive game with Jovic, Rozier, Butler, Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson.
– Adebayo against length continues to stand as somewhat of a concern.
– Before the game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone noted the Heat’s injuries and the resulting 31 lineups the Heat have had to deal with.
– “That’s crazy,” he said. “And they’ve had guys in and out of the lineup. So you give it to Spo, he deserves every dollar they just gave him and then some.”
– There still was plenty of shuffling in the rotation, with Herro, Love and others out.
– Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Caleb Martin entered together as the Heat’s first two substitutes.
– Delon Wright then followed.
– With Orlando Robinson making it nine deep.
– Robinson remains anonymous to the degree that he was not even introduced when he entered.
– Jaquez was active and aggressive, playing beyond his stat line.
– He helped energize the comeback from the early 16-point deficit.
– Martin’s first offensive rebound was the 250th of his career,
– Butler extended his career-best streak to 13 games with at least one 3-pointer.
– Butler extended his season-best streak 12 consecutive games with at least one steal.
– The Nuggets’ Malone hardly was pleased with getting the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back for his team.
– “Well,” he said pregame, “isn’t it great that the first matchup of the two teams that were in the NBA Finals is on the second night of a back-to-back?”
– As for those NBA Finals, Malone said June and winning the championship seemed like a long time ago.
– “I told our coaches,” he said, “it’s really weird, ‘You know how long ago the Finals feel for me?’ It feels like a long time ago. I’m not sure why that is, but it was such a quick turnaround for us.”
– Of the two teams since that matchup, Malone said, “They’re different. We’re different.”
– The game was the sixth ever for the Heat on Leap Day (Feb. 29) over their 36 seasons, with a 2-3 record going in in such games.
– The game was the last the Heat play this season beyond the central time zone.
