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Heat outlast Timberwolves 95-94, snap three-game losing streak

Heat Timberwolves
The Miami Heat snapped their three-game losing streak against the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday. (Photo Courtesy of the Miami Heat/@Miami Heat, Twitter)

Nikola Jovic drained a game-winning layup with 7.8 seconds left, as the Miami Heat outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves 95-94 inside Target Center Sunday evening.

Jovic, who was publicly criticized after Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, came off the bench for the first time Sunday evening in favor of Kevin Love, his first game back. Jovic tallied 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, but none were more important than his game-winner, which came off a Terry Rozier back screen.

That one-point advantage for 7.8 seconds was the only lead the Heat had in the fourth quarter, even though their deficit was no more than eight points. Timberwolves guard Mike Conley missed a game-winning 3-pointer from the corner as time expired, helping the Heat snap their three-game skid.

Tyler Herro led the Heat with 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting and 4-of-8 from 3-point range, adding six boards with three dimes in 34 minutes. Terry Rozier was the only other double-figure scorer, posting 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Bam Adebayo had nine points, seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal and three blocks.

Miami shot 44.2 percent from the floor and 11-of-31 (35.5 percent) from 3-point range. Minnesota shot 39.8 percent and 13-of-45 (28.9 percent) from distance. Anthony Edwards tallied a team-high 22 points on 4-of-14 from 3-point range; Julius Randle had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists on 6-of-16 shooting; Naz Reid had 15 points on 4-of-7 from deep in 23 minutes off the bench.

This was a much-needed victory for the Heat, who have struggled beating good teams. They were 0-3 against the West–the only three teams they have played with a .500 or better record. While he hasn’t looked like the best version of himself, they did it without Jimmy Butler, too, who missed the game after spraining his right ankle Friday against Denver.

It wasn’t a pretty win. It wasn’t an aesthetically pleasing watch. It was gutsy, gritty and, frankly, ugly–but that’s how the Heat want to win games, whether we like it or not.

***

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SunManFromDogBone

Good thing Heat didn’t trade Herro. He’s the team’s top scorer, by a lot! He’s finally beginning to show his true potential. Even his defense has shown an improvement.

https://allucanheat.com/jimmy-butler-out-as-miami-heat-face-toughest-test-of-the-season

SunManFromDogBone

Interesting stats through 6 games

Scoring Herro: 23.2, Butler: 16.1, Bam: 14.8, Rozier: 14.3 Jaquez: 9.0, Jovic: 8.7, Robinson: 8.4

Rebounding Bam: 8.8 Jaquez: 7.2, Love: 6.0 Herro: 5.2Butler: 4.8, Rozier: 4.7, Jovic: 4.2

Assists Herro: 5. Butler: 4.9 Bam: 4.0 Rozier: 4.0 Jaquez: 2.2 Love: 2.0 Burks: 1.8

FG% Larsson, Highsmith Herro Burks Butler Bryant Jovic

3Pt% Burks Jaquez Herro Larsson Robinson Rozier Highsmith

Overall, team scoring (109.0), rebounding (43.0), assists (25.4), FGs (44.1%) and free throw shooting (74.3%) need to improve. Team 3 point shooting (39%) is good.

Note: Jaquez is top 5 in scoring, rebounding, assists and 3 point shooting. Maybe Spo should consider starting him, especially with Butler out.

Proposed Rotation:
Starters: Rozier, Herro, Jaquez, Love, Bam
2nd Unit: Richardson or Burke, Robinson, Highsmith, Jovic* and Ware (with Larsson, Bryant and Richardson waiting in the wings)

* Jovic could play point forward and help with the ball handling duties. Works for me.

Last edited 1 day ago by SunManFromDogBone
vagibugi

I like a second unit of JRich, Dunc, Highsmith, Jovic and Ware. Wery fast and aggressive. Starting unit also make sense. The question is, how to incorporate Butler when he ll be back.

SunManFromDogBone

If he is healthy, he goes back to SF and Jaquez goes to 2nd unit. Someone on 2nd unit gets bumped down.

vagibugi

Well, its not that easy. IF you recall, Jimmy played a lot of his minutes with second unit. I suppose he is not compatible with first unit or he is not able to play any more against opposite starting unit.

SunManFromDogBone

Then let Jimmy play the majority of his minutes with second unit against the opponents’ second teams. However, if that’s the case, team is paying him way too much and should consider trading him.

Reality Czech

It is ironic, but not the least bit surprising, that those who are most negative when the Heat falter, don’t show up when the team does something good. Gotta love those great ‘fans’.

SunManFromDogBone

“Fair weather fans.”

Reality Czech

Pre. Cise. Ly. 😆

Big_guy305

Just finished watching the game and it was a very exciting win, the flying around with crazy defense, and frenetic pace offensively was really good to see, and we did it all without jimmy. Boy wonder had a stellar performance, and is not a liability on defense anymore. If he continues his great play, I feel like he should get that all Star nod over Jimmy and bam. Jovic played his best game of the season, I love that pose he did after the and 1 layup. I think it suits him better on the Bench like others explained. Jovic definitely has room to grow, even though he showed good improvement that game. It was good having love back and beat his old team in the process. Credit to spo that last play as well. Feels good beating almost the same team that was in the wcf and first win in there target arena since 2017.

Bout30man

That game winning basket from Jovic could really help him. Plays like that show the potential is there, but he is going to have to work his butt off physically and mentally to make it. Looks like he may have found a spot on the second team which could also help him gain his footing in the league. I think he has an unideal body type (a little gawky) that he has to overcome either by sheer will or seriously bulking up. And he has to want it bad and never let any self doubt creep in. If a play goes off, just forget it like a cornerback. He has to be like the hitter who strikes out and walks back to the dugout, head high, maybe glaring at the pitcher. Look no further than Ty, who has a more ideal body, but also had to bulk up to raise his game. Look, Jovic has faster twitch than Jokic, who, along with incredible coordination and balance, and intelligence, willed himself into being one of the two or three most effective players in the league. My point is it’s not going to be easy for Jovic, but he has a chance. Great finish by him last night. Go Heat!

Last edited 1 day ago by Bout30man
vagibugi

If I count it right, Heat missed 5 consecutive 2 on 1, 3 on 2 or 3 on 1 fast break points. Those are basketball basics, I really don’t know how this is possible. That was a problem before, but in this game really stands out. Even players noticed that and start to hesitate when they had a number advantage.

SunManFromDogBone

Heat must transform into a running/fast break team in the post-Butler area. The team has the defense and the horses so it may as well start now. As with all changes, there will be bumps in the road.

Big_guy305

That’s why we’re the worst team in the nba, in terms of layup fg percentage.

SunManFromDogBone

No excuse for free throw %. Somebody is either not practicing enough or focused enough. Went from one of best to one of worst.

Big_guy305

Definitely agree with you there, bam free-throw percentage has been going down the last 2 years, even gave the whole arena free chicken sandwiches with his misses, but everyone gotta practice there fts. Because it already costed us 1 game.

Deadsori123

Dont forget that they also need to practice to box out especially in the last few seconds while you are up. That sacramento game gave me Celtics Derrick white flashback.

Sundayafternoons

My only quibble is how many times Herro couldn’t connect with Bam in their two-man actions.

Something to watch moving forward.

InsuranceMan

I don’t think so, full disclosure I didn’t watch the game but aren’t they allowed one-offs? On the whole they have solid connection

vagibugi

Jovic was really aggressive last night, and good things happened. I believe the main challenge for him is to be aggressive every night. I really believe he can be consistenty a 15-5-5 guy in 25 minutes.

Sundayafternoons

Perhaps a shift to the bench where he’s facing second team players will do his game some good

vagibugi

Maybe, but it is not just that.

Opposite teams cover try to content Butler, Bam and Herro, which leaves a lot of room for somebody able to score 3-4 times quickly before opponent team adjust by taking 6-7 shots.

Jovic did that, but not good enough. Playing from the bench is a different roll, where rebounding, pushing the pace and moving the ball is required. It looks like he is better in that.

InsuranceMan

Agreed

vagibugi

Great win. I thought we were done in 3th.

The lineup with JRich, JJJ, Jovic, Dunc and Ware looks amazing.

SunManFromDogBone

We refer to it as the turd quarter.

oregoner

This team is so much more fun without Jimmy Butler

SunManFromDogBone

Glad to see the Heat never give up and come out with a hard fought win.

  • Glad to see Jovic flourish on the second unit. Less pressure and better match-ups. He’s young and needs time to grow and gain experience.
  • Glad to see Love back. Six points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 13 minutes. Not bad.
  • Ware also did well in limited minutes (4 points and 3 blocks in 9 minutes.
  • Glad to see Jaime back. Seven points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 block in 16 minutes.
  • I think Bam needs to see a sports psychologist. Nine points in 39 minutes is terrible. 15 ppg won’t cut it either. Spo’s new 3 point emphasis seems to be altering his game and negatively impacting his confidence. He WAS a very good mid-range shooter, which should still be his emphasis. He should shoot 3’s when he is wide open, just as Love, Ware, and Bryant do. He should not hesitate or pass up point blank 2’s.
  • Highsmith needs to take more than 4 shots in 33 minutes. He’s a very good defensive player, but the team needs more shots/points from him.
Alien

Another good game by the Heat, this one a win. Heat continues to refine it’s fast tempo offense.
Go Heat, Go!

Bout30man

Congrats to the Heat, and Jovic, This was unexpected, and more satisfying because it was. Herro doing all he can to keep us in the chase.

Reality Czech

For all the bad stuff that has happened, the Heat are in a 3 way tie for the 4th seed.

Reality Czech

Very satisfying win on many levels. Best game by Jovic even before the winning layup. Jovic coming off the bench seems the right move by Spo. Herro playing at an all star level these first 9 games. Ware with 3 blocks, so happy he’s getting his minutes. Still need a ton of improvement but this was a small step in the right direction.

Sundayafternoons

The corner long two from Ware was mania inducing

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