The Miami Heat dropped back to .500 once again after another fourth-quarter collapse, losing 102-86 to the Brooklyn Nets inside Barclays Center Friday evening.
Brooklyn entered the night having won three of their last four games–but dropped 12 of their last 13 at home. The Heat were en route to send them home with yet another, until the final frame arrived.
Entered the fourth up six, they scored just nine points in the frame on a forgettable 2-of-21 shooting, including 1-of-14 from Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Miami went the final 7:01 without a field goal after Rozier’s 3-pointer cut their deficit to 87-84–his only points in the second half.
For the night, the Heat shot just 35.6 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from 3-point range; Brooklyn shot 41.9 percent, but just 10-of-37 (27.0 percent) from beyond the arc. Rozier led the way in scoring with 20 points on 6-of-15 shooting, though he was far better in the second half than he was in the first 24.
Bam Adebayo had 18 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting; Herro finished with an inefficient 15 points and six assists; Kel’el Ware had a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double while Duncan Robinson also had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
While Miami consistently wasn’t generating good offense down the stretch, it was eaten up on the glass, finishing a minus-18 while surrendering 18 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points. The Heat may have lost the game, but that’s the difference–especially when Ware wasn’t in the game down the final 7:22.
The Nets scored 10 of their final 15 points in the paint and had a 63.2 REB% when Ware was off the floor, including a 63.6 REB% in the fourth quarter. A wise man once said, “no rebounds, no rings!” The Heat’s point-of-attack defense was a sieve and they were getting beat up in every facet of the interior–not a recipe for success!
The Heat have six fourth quarters where they scored less than 10 points since the start of the 2011-12 season. Two of them have come this season, both since Dec. 20. This also marks the second time this season that the Heat have been outscored by 20 points in the fourth. Only one team in franchise history–in 1989-90, the second year of their existence–has done that more than twice.
Friday’s loss drops the Heat back to an even 25-25. They’ve had a magnet attached to .500 all season, having not been two games above or below that threshold since Jan. 13.
They return home for a one-game set Monday against the reigning champion Boston Celtics before two straight against Oklahoma City and Dallas away from home before the All-Star break!
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Interesting article on Davion Mitchell. I can see him starting and Robinson moving to second unit along with Rozier, Jaquez, Highsmith and Jovic.
https://allucanheat.com/insights-into-heat-newcomer-davion-mitchell-s-impact-from-those-who-covered-him
Another interesting article on Heat’s new line-up and new players.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/miami_heat_new_starting_5_looks_ready_to_become_dark_horse_in_the_east/s1_16751_41715867
Bam, Herro, Wiggins, Ware, Jaquez and Larsson have contracts running through at least 2026-2027. Ware, Jaquez and Larsson’s contracts have team options for 2026-2027.
The following contracts are due to expire or are non-guaranteed after 2025-2026.

Terry Rozier $26,643,031 (2025-2026 is guaranteed)
This is his final year contract year. Miami can trade him over the summer if they find a willing partner. As an expiring contract, he may be easier to trade before next year’s trade deadline than he was this year. Meanwhile, all we can do is hope he gets his mojo back.
Duncan Robinson $19,888,00 ($9,888,000 is partially guaranteed)
This is his final contract year. Miami can: pay him $9,888,000 and terminate his contract before next season, extend his contract and keep him or trade him at some point before the trading deadline. Like Rozier, as an expiring contract, he may be easier to trade before next year’s trade deadline than he was this year.
Kyle Anderson $8,955,870 in 2025-2026 and ($9,382,340 in 2026-2027 is non-guaranteed)
This is his final guaranteed contract year. Miami can trade him over the summer if they find a willing partner. As an expiring contract, he may be easier to trade before next year’s trade deadline than this year. Ultimately, he can be released outright after next season. Meanwhile, all we can do is hope he can be used as a rotational or situational player.
Haywood Highsmith $5,616,000 (2025-2026 is guaranteed)
This is his final contract year. Miami can trade him over the summer if they find a willing partner. As an expiring contract, he may be easier to trade before next year’s trade deadline than this year. Meanwhile, all we can do is hope he can continue to be used as a rotational or situational player.
Kevin Love $4,150,000 (2025-2026 salary is guaranteed)
This is his final contract year. Miami may choose to buy him out and possibly retain him in an advisory/consultant or coaching role.
Davion Mitchell $6,451,077 (2024-2025 final year guaranteed contract amount)
Miami may decide to extend him if he displays ability to be a starting or rotational caliber point guard)
Alec Burks $2,087,519 (2024-2025 final year guaranteed contract amount)
If he is not going to be used on a regular basis, his contract will expire at the end of this season and will not be renewed/extended.
Nikola Jovic $4,445,417 (2025-2026 final year team option contract amount)
I expect Miami to pick up the 2025-2026 team option and attempt to negotiate a longer term mutually agreeable contract. Otherwise, I expect him to be traded before the 2026 trading deadline.
Keshad Johnson $1.955,377 (2025-2026 final year team option contract amount)
I expect Miami to pick up the 2025-2026 team option and attempt to negotiate a longer term mutually agreeable contract. Otherwise, I expect him to be traded before the 2026 trading deadline.
The expiring contracts for Rozier, Robinson, Anderson, Mitchell, Highsmith, Love and Burks total over $71M. If they walk away after 2025-2026, the salary savings can be used to pay two potential 2025 lottery draft picks (Miami’s and Golden State’s if neither team makes the playoffs), a couple of G Leaguers (e.g., Stevens and Christopher?) and 2-3 free agents.
I was hyped at the thought of landing Durant in the summer and it apparently wasn’t a popular take. We have a bunch of rather funny suggestions on the solution, but none are really going to help for this season.
How anyone could watch that brickfest in the 4th and not want a scorer like Durant is beyond me. We can’t just depend on Herro.
Durant would be great. But, maybe there is a younger, cheaper solution., On the other hand, maybe not as Durant is a unique talent. Your take was superb.
I will admit the age and contract are tricky. My guess is you would nee to offer 3 years and I think year one and two will serve the team well. It would be year 3 and potential falloff a cliff in production. He also has shown a willingness to come here, which is really the most important part. We can want younger and cheaper but do they want to come here? Does this player care more about max money or enough money combined with good situation?
Looking at potential FA’s, the best scorer outside of Durant is Kyrie, but he has a player option.
I watched a lot of games od Brooklyn, when Goran was there. And I saw what KD did to that team. He was basically a ball hog there. Most unwatchable basketball I ever seen.
And look at his history.
He never reached highest levels in OKC, he won titles in GS, which was basically strong enough to win titles even without him, and where he was a number two to Curry.
After that, a disaster in Brooklyn, and pending disaster in Phoenix.
The thing is, that where KD walks, grass doesn’t grow. He is not what Heat needs.
I respect your opinion on him, but it might be coach related. That Nets team with Kyrie was out of control and left to their own devices. In GS he was the MVP of those teams. They won without him but they lost the one he was injured. I personally think he respects Spo and is at a point in his career where he would be more open to following a team philosophy from a coach like Spo like he did with Kerr.
Maybe.
But, again, I prefer to watch last night game despite the final outcome then KD playing ISO.
Other teams recognized Herro as the main thread, so its harder for him to score. Herro must also play point guard in starting lineup, which is not his thing, never was.
I thing that Dru would start the games in place of Dunc, if he would be healthy. I hope that new guy is good enough to bring some playmaking to the starting unit.
Me too. And, I am harboring hopes for Dru to recover fully. I thought he was going to become a quality point guard. He may be that rare GLeaguer who blossoms into a starter.
Not sure if Mitchell has that high of PG skills, but he’s probably pretty good at it and the best we have for now. You know, not only is Herro not the greatest point guard, but Rozier and Burks aren’t all star quality PG’s either.
Burks is probably the worst man in the team for this. Rosier is slightly better.
The sad truth is, that we don’t have a real playmaker. Team best playmakers are Bam and Nico, and after them far behind Herro, Rosier and Dunc. Yes, that Duncan Robinson, used to known as one trick pony.
Here are some excerpts from people who have covered the Raptors:
While Mitchell’s game on the offensive end leaves a lot to be desired, he was aggressive at getting to the basket and shot 36% from three on low volume. You shouldn’t ask too much of him on that end, but defensively, he is as good as they come at the point of attack.
Blake Murphy, Sportsnet: I really love watching him play defense and talk about defense. He also throws every pass 110 mph, which is amusing.
Sean Woodley, Locked On Raptors: Expected to hate watching him, and for many moments I did, but he ended up being such a defensive difference-maker that I learned to live with the wonky jumper and his insane tendency to throw 102mph fastball passes to teammates standing 4 feet away. I think he probably carves out a niche as a very solid ninth or 10th man on a good team. The offense will struggle when he’s on the floor, but he’s self-aware enough to defer and get the hell out of the way, and he helped win minutes on the back of his point-of-attack defense
Hm, not very promising. But I trust Heat scout team, there must be something in him. We will see.
What is definitely there is elite defense. We’ll have to see if the Heat can develop his offensive game to a higher level.
but defensively, he is as good as they come at the point of attack.
I really love watching him play defense and talk about defense
but he ended up being such a defensive difference-maker
I am not sure how you would conclude ‘not very promising’ after reading those quotes. True, if you thought he might be some great offensive player, that’s not what you’re going to get. But I suspect he will be adequate on that side and as long as he can pass well, he should be okay on that side.
His defense is so elite , his nickname is “off night” cuz whoever he defends will have an off night .
Exactly
It reminds me a bit on what can be said about Justice Winslow.
Which, I believe, is out of the league now.
The problem is, that one way players cannot contribute enough to the team success in todays NBA. Highsmith will play himselves out of the league soon playing like he does, for example.
I think great defense on one side and throwing bricks on the other side is not enough any more. Great offence and bad defense combination is more valued right now.
Its almost unbelievable, how polished even mid quality players are today. If he cant learn that, there will be a problem. Thats why I m a bit sceptical.
Then I suggest we see what happens before making judgments.
All you guys are right about the things you’re saying. And we should be incensed over losing to a tanking team. A lot of the flaws in our line up were exposed last night. And the reluctance to try other combos has hurt us too. I would, as many have said, like to have at least given Steven’s and Johnson a chance last nite. Changes need to be made as all three players coming in are upgrades over what we have.
But, most of all, games like this show why you can’t have so much redundancy in the skillset limitations. We got out athleted so bad last night. It was so obvious that players like JJJ, (too limited in his offense) HH (you can’t have no offense no matter how good the d), and Dunc, (who usually wilts when the two way players are out there), and Love (has nothing to give anymore). Those four players being sent elsewhere would be a start. And don’t hold it against Ty and Terry for their bad stats last night as when the rest of the team can’t find their shots, those two have to chuck them up.
Get rid of the four I just mentioned, HH, JJJ, Dunc, and Love, blend in the three we just got, get another big in the buyout (an athlete, not a lumberer), and we can begin to get better. Maybe you can trade JJJ, Dunc and HH in a package. We need to change, move beyond the limited players. Dont be fooled because they have a few good moments as they don’t have enough.
Let’s start a new era right, make the painful but necessary changes. Mediocrity awaits us if we continue to carry inferior players. The ones I mentioned all had their chances, but time to get honest and real.
agree 30 but who the f wants players so unathletic or with hh never looking to make a play.your kind of stuck with them in football and baseballl theyre just released in bball works differently i believe.even spobot acknowleges love suks (never play)but dunc and jj just cant ball with good 2 way players.its such a disadvantage to have dunc out there trying to guard these guys its comical out times watching him defend.pelle i dont mind he can guard athletic and tough needs to score some pts though while on ct and be a threat to score.unlike hh
Yes, that’s pretty much how I see it too. Pelle deserves a fair shot. The others I mentioned can play, just not quite well enough in the most competitive league in the world.
duncs not athletic enough to compete.if he was hitting 3s at maybe 45% possibly playable.but hes giving up way to many points.no clue how to play d.
Remember, you can’t get rid of any of those players now that trading period is over. You have to make those moves after the season. The only player you can realistically buy out now imo is Burks. If they do that, they can pick up someone on the buyout market.
That is too bad about not being able to do anything yet to get lessen our weaker links. Thanks for explaining. I wouldn’t want to buy out Burks because he may get called into point guard backup duty.
They were all bad, but I like how Pelle is playing.
11 minutes, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls is not good.
the wrong mitchell will make pelle obsolete.hopefully wiggins makes hh and dunc obsolete.slo mo makes unfort a very disappointing jjj obsolete.
I doubt Pelle will become obsolete as you say. He fouls too much, yes, but he has shown good defense and his offense will be there. Again, we’re talking about a rookie in his first half year. As for Mitchell, see my post above pointing out he doesn’t do much – yet – on offense. Let’s keep our expectations realistic. He will help the team, but he’s not CP3.
He played great defense on Cam Johnson in his minutes.
fox luka ad changed addresses can we ever get one of those types to so beach.i got kd on my radar for next year.if not how the f u gonna beat the loaded teams.your not pat.either get one or let sunbody else get one.mediocrity is not easy to take.jimmy bailed on u pat lebron bailed not a good look pat.sunthings going on when players dont want to be here anymore.u do anything in the world lebron wants hes the best player ever in the history of the nba.u bow down to him kiss his ars.
WTF is Spo doing? The team is ice cold and he leaves Burks on the bench? Why isn’t he playing Keshad Johnson? They gave him a regular contract and brought him up from G League to sit on the bench? WTF! He plays very good defense and is better than Larsson. Spo should have just left him in Sioux Falls so he could get more playing time, confidence and experience. What about Stevens? Different player bringing the ball up every play. Trying to make point guards out of players who do not handle the ball very well. The Heat needs a calming influence/floor general to set up the offense. That’s why they look so out of control and have not been able to find consistency. They have no point guards other than Dru Smith (who is out for the season) and Stevens (who is stuck in purgatory). Davion Mitchell can’t get here soon enough! The team sure can also use more reliable scoring, which Wiggins will hopefully provide. I can see a starting unit of Mitchell, Herro, Wiggins, Bam and Ware.
totally out athletized .nets have little talent but lots athletes.those guys were jumping higher than our guys.quicker hands than our guys.this was a keshod johnson game dunc jjj even jovic cant hang with athletes.spobot was terrible tonight.best fc is bam ware jovic since the orlando win when they played alot together at the end they have hardly played togethertonight he had ware out in the 4th andhad dunc out there over ware wtf.monday our team will look different..
Highsmith had 0 points again. Johnson can do much better with a little playing time.
3 tipaways but yeah hes just not ever looking to score and looks like he has the tools to do alot more on offense,must be happy just getting nba check.cant have player that nonaggressive on offense on ct.im dying to see what we have in keshod,i know what dunc jjj pelle and jovic bring to the table.(not good enough).i even think christopher got more game than the others but spobot is one stubborn coach.when your steamrolling to a 500 season why not give keshod a shot.wiggins should help sun but hes not enough to make a big difference
wow 0 pts doesnt a coach eventually say to him something about continuously being in single digits.he is good on d but unacceptable his productivity
Sun Man, I love you, but stop. Burks? Okay he hits a couple shots then what? If Burks was a guy who could carry a team in the 4th he would not have been had for so cheap. This team needs a legit 20+ scorer to go along with Herro. The rest is there ready to go.
Hopefully, Wiggins (37.9% – 3 pts) will help take the double teams off of Herro, alleviate the scoring problem and spread the floor.
However, if Heat is having trouble scoring late in games (like last night) who would you rather have shooting 3 pointers?
Burks = 42.9% 3 pts
Larsson = 31.9% 3 pts
Rozier = 30.7% 3 pts
Jaquez = 29.7% 3 pts