Hoops Wire

Tag: miami heat

  • Erik Spoelstra calls out Heat after blowout loss to Cavs

    Erik Spoelstra calls out Heat after blowout loss to Cavs

    Erik Spoelstra, Heat, NBA
    File photo

    The Heat got a reminder Friday, and it wasn’t a pleasant one.

    Miami fell 149-128 to the Cavaliers, a lopsided result that quickly erased any momentum built earlier in the week.

    Coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t sugarcoat it.

    “It’s extremely disappointing,” Spoelstra said. “We put in the time. The guys have put in blood, sweat, and tears to develop a top-four defense two weeks ago. When we need it the most is when we let it disappear. It’s unacceptable at this time.”

    That says plenty. Miami had snapped its losing streak with a strong showing against Cleveland just days earlier, only to turn around and deliver one of its worst performances of the season in the rematch.

    The drop-off stood out. This was a team that, not long ago, was climbing into a favorable spot in the Eastern Conference. The defense was trending up. The energy looked right.

    Lately, not so much. Spoelstra had already been pushing for more consistency and urgency earlier this month. This performance only added to that concern.

    The Heat are now left trying to regroup at a critical point in the season, with the play-in tournament looming and little margin for error.

    The expectations haven’t changed. The performance, at least on Friday, didn’t match them.

  • NBA trade proposal sends Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo to Heat

    NBA trade proposal sends Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo to Heat

    Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks, NBA
    AP

    If Giannis Antetokounmpo ever becomes available, expect the Miami Heat to be right in the middle of it. Probably at the front of the line.

    A Bleacher Report trade proposal making the rounds suggests the following:

    Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
    Bucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., unprotected first-round picks in 2030 and 2032, plus a 2031 pick swap

    That’s a lot. Then again, we’re talking about Giannis.

    There’s been growing chatter that things in Milwaukee may not be as steady as they once were. Nothing official. But enough noise to at least keep rival teams paying attention.

    Miami would be one of them. The Heat have long been linked to stars, and Giannis has openly praised “Heat culture” in the past. That stuff tends to stick on the NBA rumor mill.

    From Miami’s side, it’s pretty simple. If this is anywhere close to the asking price, you don’t hesitate. You figure the rest out later.

    For Milwaukee, it’s a different story.

    Moving Giannis would signal a major shift. But the return here at least gives you something to work with. Herro is a proven scorer and a familiar name in the region. Ware and Jaquez offer youth. The picks give you flexibility.

    Still, trading a player like Giannis isn’t about getting equal value. That doesn’t really exist.

    It’s about deciding it’s time. And if that moment ever comes, don’t be surprised if Miami is calling. A lot.

  • Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: ‘Part of grit is you have to go through some pain’

    Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: ‘Part of grit is you have to go through some pain’

    Erik Spoelstra, Heat, NBA
    File photo

    It’s been an up-and-down season for the Heat. Coach Erik Spoelstra would love to see that end.

    After a strong stretch, Miami has dropped four straight following Saturday’s loss to the Rockets. This one slipped away late after Miami held a 10-point lead, only to get outscored 36-26 in the fourth.

    It was not subtle. The Rockets brought energy. The Heat did not match it, particularly on the final play when Amen Thompson slipped through for the game-winning putback.

    “When you say you have to develop some grit, you have to go through it,” Spoelstra told reporters. “There are consequences. When you feel these kinds of emotions and feel like every possession does matter.

    “Part of the grit is that you have to go through some pain. We’re going through some pain right now, and that’s going to make us better.”

    That is where the Heat are at the moment.

    The effort was there early. The execution was not there late. Against a younger, more athletic group, the Heat had trouble finishing possessions and securing rebounds when it mattered most.

    That has been part of the inconsistency. But expectation is not changing. Spoelstra wants more competitiveness, more urgency, more of a response when games tighten up.

    Right now, it is not quite there, and the standings tend to reflect that over time.

  • NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Heat, Norman Powell, Hornets

    NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Heat, Norman Powell, Hornets

    Luka Doncic, Lakers, Rockets, NBA
    AP

    Lakers

    The Lakers got both stars on the floor Thursday night. They got everything else, too.

    Luka Doncic scored 60 points in a 134-126 win over the Heat, pushing the Lakers’ streak to eight straight. As Dave McMenamin of ESPN noted, Doncic is now up to 33.4 points per game and drawing real MVP chatter.

    “He’s playing as well as anyone in basketball,” coach JJ Redick said. “He’s elevated his play at a really important time for our team … He’s been fantastic, and I think he’s one of the best and should be in the MVP conversation.”

    LeBron James added a triple-double and matched Robert Parish’s all-time games mark at 1,611.

    “If anyone is deserving … I would say LeBron James is,” Parish told McMenamin. “He’s playing at an All-Star level still, which is equally impressive.”

    Heat

    Norman Powell is adjusting, even if the role looks different.

    After returning from a groin strain, Powell has come off the bench in two of three games, still logging heavy minutes. As Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald wrote, the mindset hasn’t changed.

    “I feel like I’m a starter,” Powell said. “But if the team feels that me coming off the bench … is going to put us in position to win games, I’m going to accept the role.”

    Hornets

    Coby White is settling in. The Hornets guard is averaging 23.0 points over his past three games in a sixth-man role, bringing efficiency and pace.

    Coach Charles Lee, for one, sees it coming together.

    “He’s gotta be himself,” Lee said, via Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. “He’s a heck of a player … I’m really proud of Coby’s growth.”

  • Heat expected to move on from Terry Rozier before playoffs

    Heat expected to move on from Terry Rozier before playoffs

    Terry Rozier, NBA, Miami Heat
    File photo

    Terry Rozier has been on the roster. He hasn’t really been part of the team. That may be changing soon.

    The Heat are expected to waive Rozier in the coming weeks, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, as they look to open a roster spot ahead of the postseason.

    It’s been a unique situation. Rozier has been on leave since October following his arrest on federal gambling-related charges. Miami kept him through the trade deadline, largely for salary-matching purposes with his $26.6 million expiring deal.

    Nothing materialized. Now there’s little reason to hold on.

    The Heat have room below the luxury tax and can absorb the remaining salary. They’ve also stayed relatively healthy, limiting the urgency to make a move earlier. Young players and two-way guys haven’t exactly been short on competition for minutes.

    That said, flexibility matters. Holding the 15th spot a little longer gives Miami options. If injuries hit late, they can target a specific need. Guard. Wing. Depth piece.

    There’s also the internal route. Promoting a two-way player remains on the table.

    Either way, the clock is ticking. Rozier would need to be waived by April 9 to be postseason eligible elsewhere.

    And all signs point to that being the direction Miami takes.

  • NBA Notes: Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Heat

    NBA Notes: Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Heat

    Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves, Wolves, NBA
    File photo

    Timberwolves

    The Timberwolves will be without their star guard Tuesday.

    Anthony Edwards has been ruled out against the Suns due to right knee soreness, the team announced. The matchup carries real weight, too. Minnesota currently holds a two-game lead over Phoenix for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference — the final guaranteed playoff spot.

    According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Edwards was “clearly laboring” during Sunday’s road loss to the Thunder.

    It will mark the 11th game Edwards has missed this season. Sixth Man of the Year contender Naz Reid is also dealing with an injury and is listed as questionable with a right shoulder contusion.

    Mavericks

    Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg says injured star Kyrie Irving has been a major help behind the scenes.

    Irving is out for the season while recovering from a torn ACL, but the veteran guard has remained around the team and taken on a mentoring role.

    “[Irving] was that top pick and was kind of thrown into the fire,” Flagg told Malika Andrews of ESPN. “He stepped in as a great vet for me and was there giving me guidance.”

    Flagg admitted there were moments early in the season where the losses piled up.

    “There were definitely times where I was shaken up,” he said. “Just hearing him say I’m doing everything I need to be doing and to stay positive definitely helped.”

    Heat

    The Heat got Norman Powell back, but not in the way he’s used to.

    Powell returned after missing seven games with a right groin strain and finished with 21 points in a loss to the Magic. But he came off the bench for the first time in nearly two years.

    Why the change? Miami had won all seven games Powell missed.

    Coaches didn’t want to disrupt that rhythm.

    “Look, these are not easy decisions right now,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, via Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “He’s going to play a lot of minutes. Tyler (Herro) is going to play a lot of minutes. Right now we just need to focus on winning games.”

    Herro returned from a brief absence of his own and started alongside Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.

    With both Powell and Herro active, guard Dru Smith received a DNP-CD.

  • Heat Facing ‘Gauntlet’ As Race To Avoid Play-In Tightens

    Heat Facing ‘Gauntlet’ As Race To Avoid Play-In Tightens

    Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo
    Getty

    The Heat have made it clear they want no part of the play-in tournament this year.

    Whether they can avoid it remains the question, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

    Miami entered the week seventh in the Eastern Conference standings at 38-30, just outside the top six and therefore still in play-in territory. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, coach Erik Spoelstra said the urgency is obvious.

    “That goes without saying,” Spoelstra said of the push to avoid the play-in. “But it’s getting really competitive right now. You can see the playoff picture forming. You’re either about it or you’re not. I think our locker room is.”

    The schedule will not make things easier.

    Miami’s recent loss to the Magic kicked off a brutal stretch that includes six games against teams with winning records. The run features matchups with the Lakers, Rockets, and a two-game trip to face the Cavaliers.

    Captain Bam Adebayo summed it up simply.

    “We’re about to go into the gauntlet,” he said. “These next four or five games. We’ve got to be prepared.”

    The Heat have at least been trending the right direction. Since the All-Star break, Miami has gone 9-3 while posting top-10 marks in both offensive and defensive rating.

    Still, Spoelstra knows what ultimately decides things for his team.

    “We can’t get it twisted,” he said. “What sets the tone for us is defense.”

  • NBA Notes: Heat, Bam Adebayo, Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Hawks

    NBA Notes: Heat, Bam Adebayo, Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Hawks

    Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks, Bam Adebayo, Heat, NBA
    AP

    Heat

    Heat big man Bam Adebayo followed up his 83-point explosion in a much more normal way Thursday night. But the Heat kept right on winning.

    Adebayo scored 21 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, as Miami beat the Bucks, 112-105, for their seventh straight victory.

    The real surprise came from Pelle Larsson, who poured in a career-high 28 points. His late three-pointer after a key defensive rebound essentially sealed it.

    Kasparas Jakucionis added 18 points, Davion Mitchell scored 13 and rookie Kel’el Ware grabbed 13 rebounds.

    Miami remained sixth in the East, just behind the red-hot Magic. Those two meet Saturday.

    Bucks

    For Milwaukee, the frustration continues, with the latest being Thursday’s loss in Miami.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 31 points, while Bobby Portis added 19 and Ryan Rollins finished with 16 points and 10 assists. But Giannis missed a wide-open three with 52 seconds left that would have tied it.

    Moments later, Larsson buried the dagger.

    Milwaukee has now lost seven of its last eight.

    “We’ve had the starting group we opened the season with once,” coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “For five minutes. It’s just been one of those years.”

    The Bucks, amazingly, had no injuries entering the game.

    Hawks

    The Hawks just keep stacking wins.

    Jalen Johnson finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as Atlanta extended the league’s longest current streak to eight games with a 108-97 victory over the visiting Nets.

    Zaccharie Risacher scored 19 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 and CJ McCollum chipped in 14.

    Atlanta has climbed to eighth in the East and suddenly looks like a team nobody wants to see in the play-in.

  • Bam Adebayo’s 83 shows how much game has changed

    Bam Adebayo’s 83 shows how much game has changed

    Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo
    Getty

    If nothing else, Bam Adebayo’s stunning 83-point explosion reminded everyone of two things: One, Bam is a terrific player who’s easy to root for. And two, the NBA record book doesn’t always tell the whole story.

    As Andscape’s Jesse Washington pointed out, Adebayo’s outburst technically places him second on the league’s single-game scoring list — right between Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 and Kobe Bryant’s 81. But context matters, and Washington’s point was simple: the game today isn’t the same game Wilt or Kobe played.

    Chamberlain’s century came in 1962 without a three-point line, while Bryant’s unforgettable 81 in 2006 arrived in a gritty comeback against a Raptors team actually trying to win. Adebayo’s night? It came against the Wizards, a franchise that has spent the better part of recent seasons looking toward the draft lottery.

    Washington also noted how the modern NBA favors offense in ways previous eras simply didn’t. Faster pace means more possessions, rules discourage physical defense, and free throws come easier.

    Adebayo went 36-for-43 from the line — a reflection of a league where attacking the rim often means marching to the stripe.

    None of that diminishes the feat. Dropping 83 in the NBA still requires elite talent, relentless effort and a bit of history lining up just right. As Washington made clear, Adebayo deserves every bit of the praise he’s receiving.

    Still, the larger takeaway isn’t that Bam somehow surpassed Kobe. It’s that the sport has evolved dramatically.

    And if scoring eruptions keep happening like this, the real question may not be about No. 2 on the list. It might be how long Wilt’s 100 lasts.

  • Rockets’ Ime Udoka on Heat’s Bam Adebayo scoring 83: ‘The Washington Wizards’

    Rockets’ Ime Udoka on Heat’s Bam Adebayo scoring 83: ‘The Washington Wizards’

    Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka
    Getty

    Plenty of people around the NBA had something to say after Bam Adebayo recorded 83 points in the Heat’s 150-129 win over the Wizards.

    Rockets coach Ime Udoka may have summed it up best.

    Udoka was asked about the historic scoring night and immediately pointed to the box score and the opponent.

    “First thing you think is, ‘How?’” Udoka told reporters. “Not because of him, but because of the way he plays. I saw he only made six threes, but 40 free throws or something like that. That tells the story right there.”

    Then Udoka added a line that drew a few laughs.

    “And, the Washington Wizards.”

    Adebayo finished the night 20-of-43 from the field, 7-of-22 from three and an eye-popping 36-of-43 from the free-throw line. The performance pushed him past Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game for the second-highest total in league history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance.

    Others around the league also weighed in.

    Lakers coach JJ Redick called the performance “incredible,” though he admitted the final minutes felt like “a different type of basketball.”

    For Adebayo, the moment still felt surreal.

    “To be able to do it at home, in front of my mom and the fans, it’s a moment that will always be remembered,” he said.

  • Bam Adebayo’s 83 points incredible; and a sign NBA has a problem

    Bam Adebayo’s 83 points incredible; and a sign NBA has a problem

    Bam Adebayo, Heat, Wizards, NBA
    Getty

    Let me start here: Eighty-three points is ridiculous. Historic. It deserves recognition.

    Bam Adebayo just produced the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, leading the Miami Heat past the Washington Wizards with a stat line that feels straight out of a video game.

    Thirty-six free throws made. Forty-three attempts. Eighty-three points.

    And that’s exactly where the problem starts.

    Not with Adebayo. With the system.

    The modern NBA has tilted so far toward offense that nights like this almost feel inevitable. Pace is faster. Spacing is wider. Defenders can barely breathe on a scorer without hearing a whistle.

    So when a player gets hot, the avalanche begins.

    Free throws pile up. Three-pointers fly. Possessions multiply.

    Suddenly someone is flirting with Wilt Chamberlain territory.

    That used to be sacred ground.

    Instead, the league has quietly become a scoring carnival.

    Commissioner Adam Silver has spent years encouraging pace, space and offense. The result has been explosive numbers, nightly stat eruptions and box scores that look more like arcade totals than NBA basketball.

    Yes, the talent level is incredible. Maybe higher than ever.

    But basketball is supposed to be a balance.

    Right now, the scales are tipped.

    Defense has never been harder to play. Physicality is discouraged. The whistle too often dictates the rhythm of the game.

    Silver got the massive TV deal the league wanted.

    Now it’s time to fix the product.

    Do something. Anything. Let defenders defend again. Swallow the whistle a little. Restore the balance between offense and defense.

    Because to be honest, this is all becoming sort of gimmicky.

    You can love the NBA and still say that.

    Actually, loving the league is exactly why it needs to be said.

  • East playoff race tightens as Raptors, Magic, Sixers among those aiming to avoid play-in

    East playoff race tightens as Raptors, Magic, Sixers among those aiming to avoid play-in

    Orlando Magic, Wendell Carter Jr, NBA
    AP

    The NBA’s Play-In Tournament was designed to keep more teams competitive down the stretch. This year’s Eastern Conference race is a good example of why.

    Several teams are battling to secure the fifth and sixth seeds and avoid the Play-In entirely. As things stand, the Raptors hold the fifth spot at 36-27, with the Magic just behind at 35-28. The Heat are also 35-28 but currently sit seventh after losing the tiebreaker to Orlando.

    The 76ers, Hawks and Hornets are also in the mix, while the Bucks remain further back in the standings.

    Writers from The Athletic recently weighed in on which of those teams faces the most pressure over the final weeks of the season.

    Tony Jones pointed to the Sixers, noting the expectations after last year’s brutal 24-58 finish. Philadelphia showed early promise this season but has struggled to maintain consistency. Injuries have only complicated matters.

    The Sixers are currently without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George for at least the next couple of games and have already slipped into Play-In position.

    Jones suggested the next stretch could define the direction of the franchise. Even reaching the playoffs would be a significant step forward after last year.

    Eric Nehm said the easy answer might be the Bucks, though Milwaukee’s disappointing season has already lowered expectations somewhat. Instead, he pointed to the Magic.

    Orlando finished fifth two seasons ago and seventh last year. Another early playoff exit could raise questions about whether the current roster has plateaued.

    Josh Robbins added that financial realities could complicate Orlando’s future as well. Paolo Banchero’s max extension begins next season and the Magic already have major commitments to Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs.

    Combined with an offense that has struggled in the half court, the coming months could prove important for determining the franchise’s direction.

  • Heat receiving pick from Hornets to resolve Terry Rozier ordeal

    Heat receiving pick from Hornets to resolve Terry Rozier ordeal

    Terry Rozier, Heat, NBA
    File photo

    The Miami Heat will receive an additional draft pick from the Charlotte Hornets tied to the complicated Terry Rozier situation.

    According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Miami will receive a 2026 second-round pick as compensation stemming from the January 2024 trade that sent Rozier to the Heat.

    The selection will be the most favorable of the Golden State Warriors or Denver Nuggets second-round picks this June, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Warriors’ pick is widely expected to convey.

    The unusual adjustment follows Rozier’s alleged involvement in an illegal betting scheme.

    Rozier has been on indefinite leave throughout the season after being arrested in October on federal gambling-related charges. At the time of the alleged activity, he was still a member of Charlotte.

    Reports indicated Miami was unaware of any suspicious betting activity or the league’s investigation when it acquired Rozier.

    NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the unusual circumstances earlier this season.

    “This is an unprecedented situation,” Silver said. “I’m incredibly sympathetic to the Heat and to their fans. Sometimes there are unique events that may require unique solutions.”

    Miami still owes Charlotte a future first-round pick from the original deal. It will be top-14 protected in 2027 and becomes unprotected in 2028 if it does not convey.

    Rozier remains on the Heat roster and is owed $26.6 million this season, though the team could still waive him before the end of the year.

  • NBA Notes: Wizards, Trae Young, Warriors, Brandin Podziemski, Heat

    NBA Notes: Wizards, Trae Young, Warriors, Brandin Podziemski, Heat

    Trae Young, Wizards, NBA
    AP

    Wizards

    The debut belonged to Trae Young. The night belonged to Ace Bailey.

    Young made his first appearance for Washington after arriving in January’s trade from Atlanta, finishing with 12 points and six assists in 19 minutes as the Wizards fell to the Jazz, 122-112.

    Young had been sidelined by knee and quadriceps injuries and played under a minutes restriction.

    Still, the bigger story was Bailey.

    The rookie scored a career-high 32 points, including 21 in the first half, while knocking down seven three-pointers. Utah selected Bailey with the fifth pick in last year’s draft, one spot before Washington made its own selection.

    Juju Reese added 18 points and 20 rebounds for the Wizards, who dropped their seventh straight game. The rookie became Washington’s first player with 20 rebounds in a game since Tom Gugliotta in 1993. Reese is the brother of WNBA star Angel Reese.

    Utah, meanwhile, snapped a seven-game losing streak.

    Warriors

    Brandin Podziemski delivered when Golden State needed it most.

    Podziemski scored 26 points and helped carry the Warriors to a 115-113 overtime road win over the Rockets despite another absence from Stephen Curry, who missed his 12th straight game with a knee injury.

    De’Anthony Melton added 23 points, including a tip-in layup with 5.3 seconds remaining in overtime that helped seal the win. Al Horford chipped in 17 points as the Warriors held off a late Houston push.

    Reed Sheppard led the Rockets with 30 points, while Kevin Durant added 23.

    Golden State briefly seized control late in overtime when Podziemski drilled a three-pointer and followed with a driving layup to give the Warriors a five-point cushion.

    Heat

    The Heat keep stacking wins.

    Tyler Herro scored 25 points and Bam Adebayo added 21 as host Miami beat the Nets 126-110, handing Brooklyn its 10th straight loss.

    Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 18 points for the Heat, while Pelle Larsson and Kel’el Ware each added 16. Ware also finished with 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

    Miami improved to 34-29 and has now won six of its past eight games.

    The Heat also continued a quirky tradition. The franchise improved to 15-5 on March 5, known locally as “305 Day,” referencing Miami’s primary area code.

    Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 27 points. Brooklyn has now dropped 10 straight for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.