NBA Notes: Heat, Mavericks, Kings

Heat

Veteran guard Kyle Lowry said he intends to ramp it up for the playoffs by being more aggressive offensively, as relayed by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

“I’m shooting more, shooting them and just making them,” Lowry said. “Just getting ready to prepare for the moments that I know are going to be big for us and just playing. All season I’ve been passing first. Lately I’ve been looking for my shot a little bit more.”

Lowry, 36, added that it’s really all about just trying to keep the Heat in contention.

“For me, it’s just trying to make winning basketball plays,” Lowry said. “That’s all that really matters.”

• The Heat’s season is already taking on a playoff feel in the rugged Eastern Conference. They beat the Celtics on Wednesday and play next at the Bulls on Saturday. “That’s why I like going through all these kind of games during the regular season,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We had our share of challenges going down the stretch. But what I love about this group is we come in the next day, work at it and really try to get better. Those experiences make you stronger.”

Mavericks

Luka Doncic doesn’t just impress his own coaches and teammates. He also earns praise from those who have to go up against him. That was the case with Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff after Doncic and the Mavs picked up a road win. “He does a great job of playing at the right tempo and the right speed,” Bickerstaff said of Doncic. “He does a great job of finding them and setting them up. He’s a wizard with the ball in his hands.” (Related Dribbles)

• In case you missed it, point guard Trey Burke and guard/forward Sterling Brown remain in health and safety protocols. The Mavs expect to have both back next week. They resume their four-game trip against the Wizards on Friday.

Kings

Rookie guard Davion Mitchell says the final stretch of the regular season can be used to help build some momentum for next season.

“I feel like the whole year we didn’t really have an identity,” Mitchell told reporters. “Some games we’d play hard, some games we’d be sluggish. I think these games right here are helping us get an identity. Be that team that plays hard, is aggressive and who loves to play on the defensive end not just the offensive end.”

• The Kings last made the playoffs in 2006. There was no such thing as the iPhone then.