NBA Notes: Heat, Bam Adebayo, Warriors, De’Anthony Melton, Sixers

Heat

Tuesday’s win over Phoenix stopped a three-game skid for the Heat, and it was a needed one. Miami’s previous three losses — to Minnesota, Indiana and Oklahoma City — all came by double digits, and the offense had been trending the wrong way for a while.

Before scoring 127 points against the Suns, the Heat ranked second-to-last in offensive efficiency since Dec. 1, after sitting a respectable 13th over the season’s first six weeks, per ESPN.

That drop-off has coincided with a quieter stretch from Bam Adebayo, whose production bears watching. Since Dec. 1, Adebayo ranks fifth on the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game and is shooting just 28 percent from three.

Miami has found ways to grind out wins, but rediscovering offensive balance remains a priority.

Warriors

Offseason addition De’Anthony Melton is gaining traction as Golden State’s long-term answer at shooting guard. Melton missed the first six weeks while finishing ACL rehab and returned under a strict minutes restriction, including no back-to-backs.

That’s starting to change. Coach Steve Kerr recently bumped Melton’s cap to 25 minutes and has been closing games with him on the floor. Stephen Curry called Melton a “prototypical” starting shooting guard after a 22-point effort off the bench.

Kerr said the expectation is Melton will eventually be cleared for 30-plus minutes. When that happens, Kerr plans to use them all, a strong signal about where this is headed.

76ers

The next couple of weeks loom large for the Sixers. Beginning Wednesday, Philadelphia will play nine of its next 10 games at home, offering a critical chance to make up ground in the Eastern Conference.

After that stretch, only 13 of the Sixers’ final 34 games will be at home, making this a necessary window to capitalize. If Philadelphia has designs on climbing into the East’s top four, this is the portion of the schedule where it has to happen.