The short-handed Heat hosted the second Golden State Strangler (Draymond Green) and the Warriors, getting disgraced, inching closer to a return to the Play-In Tournament.

The Heat was missing Jimmy Butler (illness), Tyler Herro (foot), Duncan Robinson (back) and Kevin Love (heel).

Not even three minutes into the game, Draymond Green, tied for second in flagrant foul points and shares the fifth spot in accumulated technical fouls, nearly decapitated Patty Mills while battling for positioning in the lane. The refs reviewed the play, failing to call a flagrant foul. Just as I thought: this repeat offender’s antics have desensitized officials, and now, nothing short of leaving a rival unconscious or maiming someone will force the refs to crack down.

But the Heat missed nine of its first 11 attempts, getting swarmed by the Warriors’ backline. Following the opening dry spell, the hosts made 71.4% of their tries to end the period, with mainly Nikola Jović and Adebayo attacking. The former sprayed a right-wing triple and cut into the lane for a layup off a feed by his center. And the latter swished a fader facing Kevon Looney in the paint, made two hooks against the zone and canned a trailing catch-and-shoot trifecta at the top.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr instantly called timeout, and when his crew came out of it, the Heatles’ 2-2-1 press created an eight-second violation.

After one quarter, the Heat led 26-24, shooting 44% to the Warriors’ 61.1%. The hosts were also outrebounded by five.

Next, Golden State’s Klay Thompson converted two threes, firing behind Looney’s pin down on the right wing and making another in the same spot, using a horns play set up by Chris Paul. Jonathan Kuminga broke into the square for a bucket in the half court and finished on the break, too.

Yet, the Heat countered. Jaime Jaquez Jr. buried a corner three and opposite baseline jumper, plus Adebayo cracked the Warriors’ 2-3 zone, going at the low man, Andrew Wiggins, with a hook and turnaround jumper.

Then, past the midway mark of the period, as Terry Rozier misfired a left-side deep jumper, Adebayo was crushed between Gary Payton II and Moses Moody, hitting his head on the way down. Rozier intentionally fouled Moody on the other side to stop the clock. Within a minute, Adebayo, who was withering in pain, stood holding the back of his head and was helped to the bench.

Preposterously, this wasn’t enough for Jay Sabol and his trainers, who can’t keep the others on the floor by the way, or Spo and his assistants to wonder if Adebayo should enter concussion protocols. Perhaps if he fell flat onto his spine or face, safety would have taken a front seat over competitive fervor.

I don’t believe anyone saw him “removed from participation by either a team physician or the player’s team athletic trainer and undergo evaluation in a quiet, distraction-free environment conducive to conducting a neurological evaluation.”

After the game, coach Erik Spoelstra said, “I thought it should have been a flagrant foul…Three guys have to see that when someone gets hit that hard. But he’s fine; he is tough. That happened in the first half, and he was really good in that second half.”

And keep in mind that at the post-game presser, Adebayo said he stayed on the ground because he was trying to make sure he was all right. He “shook it off and got right back to the game.”

Anyways, Haywood Highsmith delivered seven of his 10 second-quarter points following the timeout. He downed a top-of-the-key three, scored a layup on the break set up by Adebayo’s block on Green, and subsequently stripped Paul in Warriors territory, scooping off the glass.

For the Warriors, Thompson made another trifecta, and Moody added six points to close the half.

At intermission, the Heat was up 55-53 and ahead on the glass by three. It also had 26 paint points, four on the break, four via second chances, eight after turnovers, and 21 from the bench.

Adebayo scored 13 points on six of 11 attempts, with six rebounds, four assists and a block. Caleb Martin logged eight points, with two rebounds and five assists. And JJJ and Jović each registered an efficient seven marks.

The Warriors picked up 26 interior points, six in the open court, five on extra tries, seven after turnovers and 14 from the reserves.

Thompson drained 15 points on six of eight ventures and picked up three boards and two dimes. Kunming scored eight on 57.1% shooting, with a rebound and two assists. Curry and Wiggins had a productive seven points apiece.

After coming out of the locker rooms for the 15-minute break, the guests were the stronger team. They stifled the Heat’s deep jumpers with clean contests and outscored them by a dozen in the third quarter. The only hosts to record multiple baskets were Adebayo and Rozier. The rest of the squad converted two of 14 shots.

For the Warriors, the aggressors were Wiggins, bursting into the lane and popping behind the elbow for a jumper; Kuminga, slicing the baseline thrice, jamming a lob, overpowering Rozier at the cup and finishing a putback; and Thompson, contributing eight points.

The fourth quarter began with the Heat down 75-85. Its long-range assault was foiled as it blanked all eight attempts as the Warriors switched, locked and trailed well on snipers plus shaded and recovered quickly.

Within the last five minutes, the Heat still had a chance for redemption. The Warriors responded with the Curry + Green pick and roll setting up a baseline dunk for Kuminga; Wiggins scored on the succeeding play in transition; and Thompson nailed a left-side jumper. The Warriors went up 17 points.

It got so ugly there was even an Alondes Williams sighting in the last 94 seconds for the Heat and a Warriors Gui Santos insertion late. (Williams signed a two-way contract with the Heat on Feb. 9. The Warriors picked Williams up on Nov. 7.)

The Heat lost 92-113 and was outrebounded by three. The squad had 46 paint points, 10 on the break, six via second chances, 14 after turnovers and 28 from the bench.

Adebayo ended the night with 24 points on 10 of 21 looks, recovered nine rebounds, and had five helpings and one block. Rozier and Highsmith contributed 15 points apiece. And JJJ had 12 points on 40% shooting, with two rebounds.

The Warriors had 52 interior points, 18 in the open court, 13 on extra tries, 13 after turnovers and 29 from the reserves.

Thompson produced 28 points on 11 of 20 tries, with five boards and two dimes. Kuminga scored 18 on 61.5% accuracy and absorbed seven rebounds. And Wiggins and Curry had 17 points each.

Spoelstra said, “You have to credit Golden State. They knew what this game was about… These are must wins for both teams going down the stretch, and they were able to get the job done tonight.”

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Evan Mobley’s return nor divine intervention could stop the Cavaliers from getting slayed by the Heat at Kaseya Center.

The Heat was missing Tyler Herro (foot), Duncan Robinson (back), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle) and Kevin Love (heel). The Cavaliers were absent Donovan Mitchell (knee), Max Strus (knee) and Dean Wade (knee).

Early, the Heat’s zone and man coverage neutralized three of the Cavaliers’ top available snipers- Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro and Sam Merrill- to one of eight makes. But Jarrett Allen cut for a layup, hooked once in the lane off a pick-and-roll set with Garland and caught a lob from Georges Niang after the Heat blitzed up top. Evan Mobley ran a give-and-go with Allen, swishing a triple; He also spitefully jammed over backline defender Thomas Bryant. Niang canned two trays.

On offense, the Heat saw lite work. Butler scored in transition through contact, pump-faked Mobley out of bounds for a corner three and made four freebies. Adebayo connected on a jumper at the nail and two gorgeous left-handed hooks- the first posting up Niang and the second spinning in the paint with Allen on his hip. And Haywood Highsmith drained a right-wing triple and cut up the baseline for a lob from Terry Rozier.

Through one quarter, the Heat was ahead 32-22, shooting 57.9% to the Cavaliers’ 45%.

Next, the home squad climbed to an 18-point advantage nearly four minutes later. Highsmith kept thriving, nailing two catch-and-release threes and a putback. The rest of the unit registered five of 14 baskets in the period, but it got a boost, creating contact at close range and tallying nine marks at the line. Cleveland’s worst offenders here were DG and Mobley, picking up five fouls between them and at the end of the interval, the former was penalized for his fourth, recklessly trying to take a charge on Butler.

Defensively, the guests were strangled with the zone and the 2-2-1 press leading into it, making one of six 3-pointers and failing on another in transition. The Heat’s protections were so sharp that the Cavs didn’t get one attempt in the restricted area in the second quarter.

At halftime, the Heat was up 60-39. It had 26 paint points, six on the break, two via second chances, 14 after turnovers and 26 from the bench.

Butler had 13 points on two shots and eight recorded freebies, with three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Highsmith had 13 points on five of six attempts, and picked up four rebounds, one assist and one steal. And Adebayo added 11 to his scorecard on 71.4% shooting, with seven boards and three steals.

The Cavaliers racked up 14 interior points, none on the break or on extra tries, two after turnovers and 12 from the reserves.

Allen had nine points on three of six ventures, with four rebounds and two assists. Mobley scored seven on four shots and recovered a rebound in his first game since March 5 (ankle). And Garland plus Niang had six points apiece. The other Cavs supplied four of 16 baskets.

In the third, the lifeless Cavs only had two members score multiple field goals – rookie Craig Porter Jr. and elder statesman Tristan Thompson. The Heat choked Cleveland’s offense, permitting nine points through 10 minutes, causing damage with the zone and man coverage. In that stretch, Nikola Jović canned consecutive triples and finished on the break, fed by a Magic Johnson-esque bounce pass from Adebayo. The Heat’s lead was later stuffed to 40 points as Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff fumed on the sideline.

Cleveland’s instructor conceded a minute-and-change into the fourth quarter. He inserted the infrequently used backup Damian Jones (center) and rookie project Emoni Bates (guard). They played the rest of the game and were the only Cavs to produce multiple field goals late.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra slowly subbed in his background players and with over four minutes left, Jamal Cain buried a right-wing banger, giving the Heat a 45-point edge. At that moment, he was joined by Cole Swider, Delon Wright, Orlando Robinson and Bryant.

The Heat won 121-84 and out-rebounded its rival by 14. On top of that, the squad had 50 paint points, 24 on the break, six via second chances, 35 after turnovers and 59 from the bench.

Highsmith dispensed 18 points on seven of 10 looks, with five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Butler had 15 points on six shots, with three rebounds and six assists. Adebayo put up 15 on the scoreboard, with 16 rebounds, three assists and five steals. And Rozier and Bryant had 14 points apiece.

The Cavaliers had 34 interior points, two in the open court, four on extra tries, 11 after turnovers, and 46 from the reserves.

Mobley was the lone guest to score in double figures- 15 points on four of six attempts, with four rebounds and an assist. Allen had tallied nine marks, four rebounds and three dimes. The other starters made six of 19 baskets in the game.

Highsmith handled the on-court interview. He said, [Udonis Haslem] always says, ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,’ and I take that to heart. I’m always in the gym, working, putting in extra shots. Whether I play or don’t play, [I’ll be] ready, and I’m here for whatever the team needs.”

At the postgame presser, Spoelstra said, “We were able to get some easy [points] off of some turnovers, stops, long rebounds… In order to see the ball go in sometimes, in an easy way, you have to do a bunch of very difficult things defensively, and we were committed to that.”
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The Heat, supposed masters of the zone, were inept against it and later wiped out in the fourth by the team that played one night earlier and lost its second-best player, Brandon Ingram. On top of that, the hosts were maimed on the glass by 22.

When commenting on the group’s frustration offensively, Heat analyst John Crotty said it was hard to believe. It ain’t. Its best marksmen were in the clinic, but that doesn’t change the reality of it being immune to consistency as it dropped its 17th match at Kaseya Center.

Gag.

Tyler Herro (foot), Kevin Love (heel) and Duncan Robinson (back) were out for the Heat. The Pelicans were absent Brandon Ingram (knee) and Dyson Daniels (knee).

The Heat’s first three tries were deep shots- all misses- foreshadowing its evening settling on the perimeter. But early, Nikola Jović splashed two trays and broke into the lane for a layup. He looked around for some help on offense, yet aside from Bam Adebayo’s two paint jumpers, the rest of the Heatles deserted him. Although, on defense, it forced six turnovers and held Zion Williamson to three failures in the lane.

On the other side, the Pelicans’ zone and transition protection forced eight straight Heat misfires in nearly four minutes. On the attack, Trey Murphy III sprayed a pull-up triple over Jaime Jaquez Jr. on the wing and two more consecutive threes at the end of the frame. Jose Alvarado and Larry Nance Jr. each put up five points, too.

Through one quarter, the Heat was below 20-21, shooting 33.3% to the Pelicans’ 40%.

Next, the Pelicans opened the second interval with five members making eight of 11 baskets in seven minutes. In that span, the Heat made 33% of its ventures facing the zone and man coverage. If not for Cole Swider downing two trays and Butler cracking the scheme once plus scoring on the break, the stretch would have been a complete abasement.

As intermission approached, McCollum dribbled downcourt on the right side past Terry Rozier for a layup in transition and zoomed by Swider from the wing to the paint, dropping a floater over Adebayo’s outstretched limbs.

At halftime, the Heat was down 42-46. The squad had 16 paint points, five on the break, two via second chances, 16 after turnovers and eight from the reserves.

Jović picked up 10 points on four of six shots, with one assist and a steal. Butler logged nine points on 40% accuracy, with two two rebounds, an assist and a steal. And Adebayo had six on his scorecard plus nine rebounds and two blocks.

The Pelicans had 12 interior points, nine in the open court, three on extra tries, two after turnovers and 16 from the bench.

CJ McCollum was the high Pelican, registering a dozen points on five of 10 looks, with three rebounds and four assists. Murphy added nine to his ledger on six attempts and recovered five rebounds. Alvarado supplied nine points off the bench, with four boards and two assists. And Williamson had barely contributed.

Instead of starting the third with Valančiūnas, Pelicans coach Willie Green shelved him until later in favor of Larry Nance Jr..

Butler uncorked the offense to start the third, driving on the baseline through Williamson for a layup. But the Heat didn’t score again until it was in a 12-point hole. Thomas Bryant provided eight points, and Butler cut through the center, catching and finishing at the cup twice, but the unit couldn’t get stops.

McCollum continued his barrage, getting into the paint for a pull-up jumper and connecting on two triples. And Marshall made three buckets late. He made a corner triple when left alone, beat Rozier from the top to the hoop for a left-handed scoop and hit a floater on the break.

The Heat started the fourth quarter behind 66-76, but before it could answer, Valančiūnas made an elbow jumper against the Heat’s zone, and McCollum raced into the paint, sinking a floater. The Pelicans converted six of 10 3-pointers in the sequence, shooting over openings plus drop coverage and pulling up off the dribble.

The only Heatles to log multiple field goals late were Adebayo and Swider, combining for five of six makes. The rest of the group made 21% of its tries to close as the hosts got outscored by 13 points in the fourth.

The Heat lost 88-111. It had 30 paint points, eight on the break, seven via second chances, 16 after turnovers and 32 from the bench.

Butler had a quiet 17 points on five of 12 looks, with four rebounds and five assists. Rozier poured in 13 points on 35.7% shooting and racked up four boards and two assists. Adebayo recorded 12 marks on seven attempts with 10 boards and two blocks. Martin had three rebounds, contributed a donut to the scoreboard, missing eight tries

The Pelicans stockpiled 38 interior points, 13 in the open court, 18 on extra tries, six after turnovers and 45 from the reserves.

McCollum produced 30 points on 57.1% shooting, with five rebounds and seven dimes. Alvarado had 17 points on six of 12 attempts, with seven rebounds and six assists. Murphy had 14 on his ledger and recovered eight boards. And Marshall added 13 points and seven rebounds.

At the postgame presser, coach Erik Spoelstra said, “Our level of energy, detail, and willingness to go to different layers of our offense was not great.”

Butler said, “Nobody is scared to come in here and play us. Nobody is scared to play us on the road either.”

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Bam Adebayo and Co. climbed out of a 17-point second-half deficit to tie late, but the “Hardest working. Best Conditioned…Nastiest Team in the NBA” was gassed, physically and mentally.

Jimmy Butler (foot), Tyler Herro (foot), Kevin Love (heel) and Nikola Jović (hamstring) were absent for the Heat. The 76ers were missing Joel Embiid (knee), Robert Covington (knee) and De’Anthony Melton (back).

The hosts rattled off 31 first-quarter points, 17 belonging to Maxey from multiple 3-point makes, three mid-range jumpers and a reverse layup in transition. Kelly Oubre Jr. added six points on three of four shots. And the rest of the 76ers made 30% of their attempts in the frame.

For the Heat, the biggest issue early aside from getting ripped by Maxey and Oubre, was the four turnovers by way of incautious passing. But Adebayo swished a jumper at the nail, dashed to the rim on the right side, running an inverted pick-and-roll set with Duncan Robinson, made a right corner triple when the 76ers dared him to shoot and put back Delon Wright’s missed layup. He also dished out four dimes to Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier and Haywood Highsmith.

After 12 minutes, the Heat was down 23-31.

Next, the Heat’s zone contained Maxey to zero field goals in four tries using the zone. Needless to say, former Heatle Kyle Lowry played all of the second quarter. He notched eight points on three of five baskets with three rebounds, and a block on Thomas Bryant’s drive in the lane while defending as the low man. And Oubre, pulled down five boards, splashed two right-side trays and dribbled into the paint for a turnaround jumper over Caleb Martin.

The Heat responded with 26 points on 43.5% shooting. Delon Wright, Patty Mills, Thomas Bryant, Jaquez and Martin combined for two of 11 ventures. Yet, Rozier finished a two-footer in transition, dusted Oubre going left, dropping a floater and making a step-back top-of-the-key triple after pump-faking Lowry to the side.

On top of that, Adebayo, with 6-foot-6 KJ Martin on his back, connected on a turnaround lefty hook and made a fadeaway banker over Mohamed Bamba. And Highsmith contributed five points.

At halftime, the Heat was behind 49-51 but up on the glass by six. The group picked up 24 paint points, nine on the break, eight via second chances, four after turnovers and nine from the bench.

Adebayo had 13 points on an unblemished six attempts, with nine boards and five assists. Rozier supplied 10 to the scoreboard on 40% accuracy, with five rebounds. Highsmith put up eight points and two rebounds. And Jaquez added seven to his ledger with three assists and four rebounds.

The 76ers had 18 interior points, nine in the open court, two on extra tries, 10 after turnovers and six from the reserves.

Maxey logged 18 points on six of 13 shots with four rebounds and five assists. Oubre produced 14 points, making 60% of looks, plus picked up five boards. And Lowry had eight on his card.

In the third, the Heat fell into a 17-point gutter five minutes in when Oubre cut up the baseline for a catch and dunk. Containing Maxey was a problem, too. Before the deficit bloated to its peak in the quarter, he beat a double going to the cup for a layup, scored on the break and registered a transition three. Before it ended, he filed two more mid-range jumpers. Bamba and Buddy Hield also provided 10 points on a pristine four attempts.

On the visiting side, Adebayo wasted three possessions, turning it over, but he was the only one to record multiple field goals in the third. After floating in a basket in the paint and making two freebies, he sank a catch-and-shoot transition bomb.

Moreover, Rozier misfired against a switch and double in pick and roll and failed attacking in transition and from the corner. The other Heatles added nine points, but the crew was outscored by a dozen in the sequence, entering the fourth down by 14.

Robinson did not check in for the fourth because of a back discomfort.

Then, the Heat went on a 20-6 run five minutes into the period. In that span, Bryant made a left-wing triple and floater in the paint. Patty Mills dispensed a three. And Rozier successfully blasted away at the nail and twice at the top of the key. That was done as Adebayo caught a breather on the bench. Coach Erik Spoelstra subbed him back for Bryant with nearly half the quarter left, but he was invisible the rest of the match.

Subsequently, JJJ missed four shots in the last few minutes. He failed to fade to over Lowry in the post, got denied twice at close range by Oubre and bricked a critical left-corner three that would have kept the Heat’s ember burning with 20 seconds left.

As the Heat stalled out in the last three minutes, Lowry broke the zone with a deep shot, putting the 76ers back up by four. Then, Oubre caused damage, slicing past JJJ on the baseline for a bucket. And Lowry got one more jab in, dribbling past Rozier into the lane for a scoop plus score off the glass.

Martin’s putback dunk with 75 seconds left, cutting the disadvantage to four, was as far as the visitors went.

The squad lost 91-98. It produced 38 paint points, 15 on the break, 15 via second chances, 14 after turnovers, 28 from the bench and converted 39.3% of attempts.

Adebayo finished with 20 points on eight of 10 ventures, with 13 rebounds and six assists. Rozier scored 20 points on 38.1% shooting and added eight rebounds and one assist. Martin dropped 13 on his ledger, with four steals. Highsmith and Bryant had 11 points apiece.

The 76ers had 38 interior points, 19 in the open court, four on extra tries, 19 after turnovers, 20 from the reserves and made 43.5% of shots.

Maxey recorded 30 points on 11 of 24 attempts and had eight boards and 10 dimes. Oubre tallied 22 points on 52.9% shooting, 11 rebounds and five blocks. And Lowry delivered 16 points and four rebounds.

At the postgame presser, Spoelstra was asked about Robinson. He said, “Duncan couldn’t move coming into the game… Even when he was in there, it was a fraction of what he can normally do, just in terms of how he can move defenses around.”

In the locker room, Rozier said, “It was definitely tough when we weren’t hitting our shots and then it kind of translated with our defense. Coach had to remind us what we are here for… We just got the short end of the stick tonight.”

Adebayo said, “We just got stagnant and the ball wasn’t moving.”

The Heat will not practice on Tuesday.

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