Heat Aiming To Figure Out Second-Half Collapses As Tough Losses Pile Up

November 7, 2024

The Heat just can’t seem to hold on when it matters most.

After leading by double digits in the second half against both the Knicks and Kings, and then blowing a 15-point lead against the Suns, the Heat find themselves at 3-4 to start the season.

That’s not the kind of start this team envisioned, especially with its typically strong first-half play, which has been overshadowed by those crushing collapses in the third quarter.

It’s frustrating, Heat star Jimmy Butler said, because they’re “doing a lot of good things,” but those lapses at the wrong time are costing them games. In Monday’s heartbreaking loss to the Kings, it was Domantas Sabonis’ game-winner with less than a second left that sealed their fate. And on Wednesday, it was the final possession against the Suns –where instead of getting a good look at a potential game-tying shot, Butler was forced to rush a pass to Tyler Herro as the buzzer sounded.

The Heat’s record in clutch games (decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes) now sits at 1-3, a concerning trend. In the past two seasons, Miami had excelled in close games, posting a 54-42 record in those situations.

But this season, they’re failing to execute down the stretch, and that’s what’s separating them from the wins they need to get back on track.

Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo’s shooting slump continues. The Heat big man, who has been the backbone of their defense and playmaking, had a rough outing in Phoenix, finishing 5-of-21 from the field, including a brutal 26.3% from inside the paint.

It’s the kind of performance that’s rarely seen from Adebayo, who has been an efficient scorer throughout his career. But despite his struggles, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has stayed positive, praising Adebayo’s all-around impact — 12 rebounds, six assists, five steals — and his ability to keep competing despite the shooting woes.

For the Heat, it’s all about consistency, and they’ve been anything but consistent. Their first-half dominance has been overshadowed by their inability to close games.

With a six-game road trip underway, they need to find a way to put it all together — no more missed opportunities, no more mental lapses. Butler and company know they have the talent to be a contender, but they need to start executing when it counts.

The Heat will try to regroup on Friday in Denver against a Nuggets team still missing key players, including Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, who’s listed as questionable.