The Miami Heat stood on business last night, as they take down the Sacramento Kings on the road 121-110 and improve to 32-25 on the season. Miami went up in the standings to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, now just 1.0 game behind the fifth seed Philadelphia 76ers and 2.5 games behind the fourth seed New York Knicks.
#HEATWin final – Miami 121, Sacramento 110
🔥 Adebayo: 28pts, 10rebs, 7asts, 2stls
🔥 Jaquez Jr.: 26pts, 5rebs, 3stls
🔥 Love: 19pts & 7rebs
🔥 Martin: 16pts, 6rebs, 3 3PM
🔥 Highsmith: 15pts, 4rebs, 3stls, 3 3PM
🔥 Wright: 13pts, 5asts, 2stls pic.twitter.com/3AaK54SAas— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 27, 2024
The team went into last night’s late West Coast matchup missing seven players in Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Nikola Jovic, Josh Richardson, Orlando Robinson and Thomas Bryant. Yet they proved that they indeed ‘had enough’.
The resiliency this team ALWAYS shows with missing key guys and that no excuses ‘we have enough’ mentality is the epitome of Heat Culture
The facet of their game that separates the contenders from the pretenders no matter the seeding
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) February 27, 2024
It was an impressive undermanned road victory against a strong Western Conference playoff team led by the duo of Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. That young pairing gave Heat Nation a glimpse of what the future could look like. Adebayo registered a monster 28 point, 10 rebound double double along with 7 assists on 11/18 shooting (61%), 2 steals and a +11 on the floor. Jaquez Jr added 26 points and 5 boards on 12/17 shooting (71%) and 3 steals. They both provided some serious highlights throughout the night and clutch buckets down the stretch, especially from the Heat’s rookie.
“He’s not a regular rookie, I’ve always said that. He’s well beyond his years and we’re just gonna keep driving him to be who he is.” 💯
Bam speaks on Jaime Jaquez Jr. with @Dennis3DScott pic.twitter.com/718SZbg7ig
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 27, 2024
Jaquez Jr’s footwork and post moves were huge in that fourth quarter.
The Heat also got a boost from their supporting cast. Caleb Martin, Haywood Highsmith and Delon Wright combined for 44 points on 15/28 shooting (54%). Martin and Highsmith were feeling it early from 3-point range and all three provided some much needed elite wing defense. Martin was an impressive +18 on the floor.
Wright made his Heat debut and got the spot start in the absence of pretty much every other guard in the depth chart. He was just recently picked up by the Heat in the buyout market and was brought in for his POA defense and grittiness on that end of the floor.
Delon Wright in his Miami Heat debut:
13 PTS
3 REBS
5 ASTS
2 STLS
3-5 FG
2-4 3PTLove this pick up 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/dgHGxy8YpL
— Mink Flow (@currypistonn) February 27, 2024
Wright had two steals and was a +9 on the floor as the starting PG, who seemed to fit in seamlessly with Coach Spoelstra’s defensive minded approach and system.
Spo says the player of the game in the Heat locker room was Delon Wright (13-3-5-2 in a spot start/his first Heat game):
“He plays winning 🏀. He guards. Offensively, he has a great knack for knowing how to make the right play…” pic.twitter.com/kgR2hhh3bt
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) February 27, 2024
The biggest X-factor of the night wound up being Kevin Love, who absolutely feasted in limited minutes. He registered 19 points and 7 rebounds on 6/9 shooting, 2/3 from three and a +10 in just 15 minutes of playing time off the bench. Love always find a way to play to a role as the veteran and a leader for this team and his contributions were pivotal last night.
Our VET… light work!!! https://t.co/Uzricl3LdS
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) February 27, 2024
Duncan Robinson struggled to shoot the ball, but he still found another way to put his imprints on the game as he added a career high 11 assists and a team high +25 on the floor. Miami has now also improved to 15-5 on the season when Robinson is starting.
Coach Spo opted to go with a very tight 7-man rotation being shorthanded. The starting unit consisted of Wright, Robinson, Jaquez Jr, Martin and Adebayo. Love and Highsmith were the only two main rotation guys who saw action off the bench. Two-way guys Alondes Williams and Cole Swider played in spot bench roles as well, but neither played more than just five minutes. Everyone in the starting group played minimum 35 minutes.
Keegan Murray was the leading man for Sacramento as he dropped 28 points on 10/14 shooting. De’Aaron Fox also had a 27/8/6 performance along with a 14/14 double double for Domantas Sabonis but it wasn’t enough.
The Heat shot 52% from the field and 37% from three as a team. They shot twice as many free throws as the Kings and went 80% in that department compared to the King’s 58%. Miami also won the turnover category and was able to keep control of the basketball, with just 11 compared to the King’s 15. Both team’s were similar in the assists, rebounding and steals departments.
The Heat look as together as a unit as they ever have been all season long. They will look to keep it going tonight in Portland on the second night of a back-to-back against Joe Cronin’s Blazers. Butler and Jovic will both be back in the fold after their one game suspension. Herro and Rozier should be closer to game-time decisions with their knee injuries.
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Jaime Jaquez! Wow! This guy continues to impress me more with each game. Am I missing something or is this a rookie making these types of offensive moves?
He plays like a veteran.
Again. Every disappointment is a blessing in disguise.
…and here comes Portland.
A very strategic game.
Things that stood out for me.
1.Heat’s pacing of the game, knowing they had a b2b.
2.The different roles Love,JJJ and HH played when Bam was getting his rest. Cleverly done by Spo.
3.Delon will be a lot better going forward.He really adjusted well at a fly’s notice.
4. Bam is gradually extending his range.
From SI:
””It’s like a running joke. Regardless of who Miami puts out there, it looks like that’s a team that played in the Finals or played together for a while,” Fox said. “They have guys who do their job and they have guys who come out, regardless of how long they’ve been with the team, they play hard. … So it’s just their continuity. They play hard. They understand what they need to do. They played zone probably 80% of this game, and it’s their continuity in that defense, just being able to be disruptive, being able to get their hands on the ball.”
This statement by Fox is often captivated by the phrase ‘Heat Culture’. Their ability to scout and develop players of all ages allows them to win regardless of the circumstances. Players such as Haywood Highsmith and Kevin Love contributed to Monday’s victory at a high level.
Praise is warranted for coach Erik Spoelstra, who has led the team in the right direction when faced with tough decisions. Spoelstra’s ability to adjust the rotation at a moment’s notice deserves credit.”
Everyone gave us some good impactful minutes. Whether it was bam giving us 28/10/7 with another clutch 4th quarter. JJJ breaking through the rookie wall looking like baby butler. Love with an unstoppable and efficient 3rd quarter, got 19 in 15 minutes. HH leading us with the most 3s , caleb with dagger dunk, playing really good O&D. Also delon with good debut, and dunc with a career high 11 assists. Being Undermanned didn’t stop us or spo with next man up mentality. Lastly it’s baffling to me that spo still hasn’t won COTY smh… but anyways I digress, time to beat down Joe Cronin, Jody Allen, and these lame trash trailblazers.
AMEN!
I read this a week or so ago, so I can’t take credit for it, but think it’s a great statement… (not verbatim)
What the Heat brain trust accomplished in the last few weeks was to trade Lowry and a first round pick for Rozier and Delon. The first move got us farther away from the second apron, allowing the second.
I’d do that trade every day and twice on Sunday.
phily gave us jimmy took turtle joel next?
He can join everyone else on the injured list
At some point I’m going to quit questioning the Godgather’s judgement. Still would like a PF/C to pair with Bam, but I guess I can’t have everything.
GO HEAT!!!
I agree. We’ll see what the offseason brings, although the simple answer may be a stronger, more experienced Jovic.
I had mentioned it in the article where Jimmy was officially suspended. Do not bet against Iron Chef Spo when he’s cooking in the kitchen. Awesome win.
Yup
The Heat are starting to put things together & stack some wins.
Great to see.
Let’s Go Heat!
I thought KLove played 30min. 19pts in 15min? Talk abt quality time and efficiency! Everyone contributed big and stayed focus even when threatened with that big Kings run. Blazers next. My guess Tyler and Terry will continue to rest. Good thing its (only) Portland in back end. Sorry Mr. Oregoner lol. Make it 5 straight Heat W!
best qtr hes played in a heat uni.minnesota k love was referenced by crotty and yours truly almost about same time.hmm wonder if these guys have hhh up when broadcasting.they should lol
whats crazy is that if the sixers lose tomorrow against the celtics, and if we win against the blazers also tomorrow, then were tied at 5th seed
w/o og and randle knicks fading
Again, great game. Props to Wright, JJJ, Bam and all the rest.
But what happens with Cain?
swiders better lol.
He’s a role player, his time will come.