The Brooklyn Nets dispatched the shorthanded Miami Heat, who were on the second night of a back-to-back, 112-97 Saturday evening inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Heat were without Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo due to injury. They struggled to find much offensive flow throughout the evening, shooting 43.7 percent and 11-of-34 (32.4 percent) from 3-point range without getting to the free-throw line, hoisting just 13 attempts (10 makes).
Caleb Martin led the Heat with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting in 31 minutes off the bench. He also hauled in seven rebounds with three assists. Jaime Jaquez had 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting with five rebounds, four assists and one steal.
Their only other double-figure scorers were Josh Richardson and Cole Swider, who got his first extended run this season, finishing with 11 points apiece. Swider knocked down a team-high three triples in 20 minutes.
Nikola Jovic, who was called up from the Sioux Falls Skyforce (G-League affiliate) ahead of Saturday’s game, primarily played as a backup 5. He finished with one point without a made field goal, but had six rebounds and five assists in 17 minutes.
Haywood Highsmith (tailbone/lower back) and Kevin Love (knee) exited Saturday’s game in the second half with separate injuries. Highsmith had eight points and four boards in 15 minutes while Love tallied nine points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes.
Mikal Bridges finished with a game-high 24 points, in addition to six rebounds and three assists on 8-of-19 shooting. Every other Nets starter finished with double figures, led by Cam Johnson, who started 5-of-5 and had 19 points with 10 rebounds and five assists on 8-of-13 shooting.
Dorian Finney Smith had 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting while Spencer Dinwiddie had a double-double of his own with 14 points and 11 assists.
The Nets, collectively, shot 50 percent (39-78) from the game and 14-of-36 from 3-point range, shooting 38.9 percent from distance. The Nets pierced Miami’s zone in the final three quarters, shooting 53.4 percent and knocking down 10 of their 14 3s over that span.
It was encouraging to see Cain, Jovic and Swider get their (NBA) sea legs under them, as it was to see Martin continue to progress individually since returning from injury. But the Heat were not able to consistently create–or capitalize–on advantages offensively while its backline got punctured defensively.
The Heat now fall to 2-1 against the Nets this season, and 10-7 on the year. Saturday evening marks their first two-game skid since they lost four of five to begin the 2023-24 season. Brooklyn snapped a three-game losing streak and moved to 8-7.
They will cap their five-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday, their final in-season tournament game, hoping to keep their IST Wild Card hopes alive.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
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What is the news on Hampton? I heard he was rehabbing, from what? ,
Facing extended absence
The Heat relayed Thursday that Hampton (knee) could be headed for an extended absence, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Impact Details on the nature of Hampton’s sprained right knee are scarce, but the fourth-year player is apparently out indefinitely after suffering the injury in a practice with the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce. Hampton had made just one two-minute appearance with the NBA team this season before suffering the injury.
NOVEMBER 17
How the rebuilding teams have risen and how the mighty have fallen. Miami falls from 9-15. Note comment on Butler’s “hero ball” 3’s.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/nba-power-rankings-week-six/ss-AA1kB4Oh?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=b88407c8d5f64e9387bf40d6378c1233&ei=13#image=16
jimmy doesnt care about reg season just get in
I was also catching up on some Thanksgiving NBA yackity yack, and it sounds like the rest of the league is starting to realize how good Jaime is
…..that tells me that he is moving to the next phase of his NBA career. When scouts start game planning for his strengths and soft spots.This will help him grow, plateau or drop off. Time will tell.
guess its time to talk to the blazers again and see what can be done to take Malcolm Brogdon and Jerami Grant. Both players will fillup current holes in our lineup lol.
After December 15th…
Lowry (expiring), Duncan (partial guarantee in 2024-2025), Jovic and pick for Grant and Brogdon.
Rotation:
Brogdon, Herro, Butler, Grant, Bam
Richardson, Jaquez, Martin, Highsmith, Love/ORobinson
Otherwise, Duncan, Jovic and pick for Brogdon
Rotation:
Brogdon, Herro, Butler, Martin, Bam
Lowry, Richardson, Jaquez, Highsmith, Love/ORobinson
Looks like Highsmith is hurt.
Maybe out for a few games.
All these injuries are really starting to suck azz.
I would like to see Jovic start at pf for the few games that Highsmith misses, if he misses any.
Jovic struggled defensively in that nets game but that shouldn’t be a surprise since Spo had him playing a position he’s not used to playing, the C position.
He’s a natural sf, so he’s going to struggle being the last line of defense.
But it looks like that’s where Spo wants to play him.
imo he’s better served playing next to another big like Bam or ORob who can guard the basket.
Jovic missed the few shots he took otherwise he looked decent offensively.
6 boards, 5 asts in 17 mins.
Made some beautiful passes in the open floor, especially that one to Jaime for the dunk.
If Spo ever decides to play him full time and put the ball in his hands he’s going to cause serious problems for opposing defenses.
Bigs who can handle, pass and score on all 3 levels are a nightmare to defend.
Anyway here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Haywood.
We are a deep team so we should be allright in the mean time.
The Bucks are up tues.
Here’s hoping for a win.
What happens when you combine heat and deer?
Thats right, Venison.
all jovic needs is playing time,figure out his nichein the nba game.we/re gonna make playoffs with or w/o jovic on ct.lets see what we have in him theres alot of skills on that big framed body.needs some time to find his way in the nba.too talented just not to play with our smallish team
Highsmith’s injury
Sacroiliac joint injury can take days, weeks or even months to heal. Time will tell.
Déjà vu.
Seems like the 2022-23 injury bug has hit again. It may turn into a bumpy road from now until the trade deadline.
Next men up!
I can see Caleb at PF (like last year) and maybe Jovic at PF on second unit until more players are healthy. Spo needs to keep Cain, Orlando and Swider with the team for the time being. This is a good opportunity to see how well they can do with extended minutes. Hampton needs to finish his rehab and get back to Sioux Falls asap. His services will also probably be needed before all is said and done.
Possible reinforcements
Riley needs to be on the look-out for possible trades/buyouts that will strengthen the team. I think there are players to be had among the bottom eight likely lottery teams (Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Utah, Portland, Memphis and San Antonio).
There are a couple of PGs and PFs I wouldn’t mind seeing on the team.
It is what it is.
GO HEAT!!!
Happy that every comment so far agree that apart from Lowry and HH in the game last night, the Heat played with its 2nd and 3rd tier units.
Happier that no one unloaded a bazooka on Spo and Pat.
Happiest, that this game sent me to sleep by the 4th quarter and hours later, when I found out about the score, I was glad I did not loose my nap for the game.
Caution: Jovic needs to understand that the NBA is not a tourist camp. He is too gentle.
Lowry is still my PG and does an excellent job at it. Pat don’t trade him, pleeaaseeee!
Looks like Kyle has a chip on his shoulder. Both shoulders? Lol. With those recent trade deals listing him as bait he wants to prove he’s worth the $$$ at his age. Hope he continues to ball and ball great
agree.
Jovic showed some interesting skills, just not necessarily as a big. More as a big-guard. At least offensively.
With Herro, Butler, Bam and Dunc out this is basically 100 point a game scoring team.
Just not enough.
We saw some Jovic at C. Not good.
Bryant was terrible, again. O. Robinson is much better option at the moment.
We need our best players back.
seems like we really cant find that backup 5 that we need. all have been failures so far (bryant, dedmon, zeller)
Im still feeling that loss at the garden. 2 days off? Then its vs Dame’s Milw and time to get a convincing W to forget this bad weekend of bb. Still go Heat.
That loss was much easier to take than Friday’s meltdown.
Here are my observations and opinions regarding various personnel.
Jovic is not ready. He needs to go back to Sioux Falls for more seasoning/playing time.
Swider is not ready. He needs to go back to Sioux City for more seasoning/playing time.
Thomas is not reliable. He needs to be sitting at the end of the bench cheerleading (to be used only in case of extreme emergency).
Orlando Robinson should be kept with the team and used whenever Love is not available or having an off night.
Cain should be kept with the team and given a two year contract as soon as a spot opens up.
Duncan should be the team’s starting SG. His overall game has improved substantially and he does not require being a primary ball handler.
Herro should be moved to sixth man so he can be a primary ball handler and scorer against opponents’ second units.
Martin should replace Highsmith at PF and Highsmith should be used on the second unit and as a late game defensive specialist.
Miami should continue to work with Hampton to determine if he can be developed into a good NBA PG.If he shows signs of improvement in Sioux City, he should be given an opportunity to play with the Heat on an as-needed basis. He has a great deal of potential and a good attitude for learning. With patience and the right coaching, he may be the team’s PG of the future.
Riley should willing to trade anyone not named Bam, Butler, Jaime, Herro or Duncan (plus assets) to upgrade the PG and PF positions with two-way players who can defend and score. They don’t need to be all-stars, just players capable of averaging 10-15 points per game who are better than average defenders.
Milwaukee on Tuesday. I hope Bam, Butler and Duncan are “good to go” by then.
GO HEAT!!!
Good comments and I agree, except that, although Caleb should start over HH, he didn’t do well previously in that role. So, I agree with your other contention that we need two players, not just one. And, now even more so, as every back to back from here on out we are going to be missing integral players and may lose those games. Even non back to backs we may have a short line up with older players and over worked ones. Yes, the gild is off the lilly with Bryant and HH, as they have limitations too, as do Love and Richardson, who are barely adequate. We will know more by the Bucks and Indiana game, but it looks like we may have benefited from a relatively easy early schedule and are only a slightly better than average team, and that is when at least one of our two stars is on the court. Last night, we may not have beaten anyone.
As evidence comes in, I become more firmly in the we are not ok without upgrades camp. JJJ has been an exciting addition, Duncan became a solid player, Bam improved, Caleb is better too. But, Jimmy and Lowry are a year older, and have a little less, particularly Lowry. We still don’t know how Ty will fit into the mix. But, everyone else is questionable. Many of these G Leaguers don’t work out, and late season additions or other teams castoffs are a crapshoot too. That is the hard truth.
This idea that the Heat can turn it on every year and only need to make the playoffs is probably erroneous and last year may have been a wonderful convergence of many factors, ie, something of a fluke.
Right now, Miami is a play-in team. The team is exactly where it was at the end of last season (7th place) ahead of 8th place Atlanta. 9-11 place Cleveland, Toronto and Brooklyn are also nibbling at it’s ass.
Next up, second place Milwaukee followed by two games against sixth place Indiana. Mediocre won’t cut it this year. Evolve or die! Time for Pat to pull a rabbit (or two) out of his…hat.
GO HEAT!!!
I couldn’t say it better.
This victory should go to the Cavaliers parquet. Different story tonight if Dru Smith has both his ACLs.
gotta admit, i didn’t bother to watch this game, since it was basically a Skyforce game. Nice to hear Cain and Jovic got some burn. But I just watched the Knicks game with a Sixers fan over Thanksgiving, so I felt inspired to give my ‘quarter season’ analysis.
First of all, the Heat have had a double digit lead in the third quarter of basically every game this season. They’re definitely good enough to play with anyone. Their wekaness has been closing teams out. Ironically, closing teams out is Dame Lillards specialty. But that ship has sailed. So here’s what we’ve got.
Jamie the Hawk is the third best player on this team. Maybe a healthy Herro could challenge him for that role, but otherwise it’s obvious. Unless Jimmy becomes the shooting guard, Bam/Jamie/Jimmy are the closing frontcourt for this team. So that’s three.
Dru Smith is hurt, so Kyle Lowry is your only point guard. J-Rich is fine but he’s a backup. So that leaves Herro and Duncan as your biggest variables in the “closing-5”. Herro and Duncan are both awesome on offense, and our best hope for improving our clutch time scoring. Unfortunately they haven’t beem good enough on defense to share the court. At some point, they either have to play together or you have to trade one of them.
This team is good, they just need to get “over the hump”. And they’ve got plenty of time to figure it out. But short story long, here’s my take. I like the Bam/HiMay/Himmy frontcourt. The Heat need to figure out the Herro/Duncan/Lowry backcourt.