Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat’s losing streak spirals to five after the Raptors take over the fourth quarter

Snapping a four-game losing streak can be a cathartic experience for a team, especially when the other side is trying to end its own skid.

The Heat came off five days of rest with their 11th different starting lineup because of Tyler Herro’s toe injury and fell apart in the fourth quarter for their fifth straight loss.  Their biggest tasks were surviving Brandon Ingram’s onslaught of jumpers and Scottie Barnes’ rim pressure, and they failed miserably on Pat Riley Court.

They logged their lowest-scoring game of the season (96), and it was the first time they had below 100, too. They’ve been figured out in part because they are getting picked up higher in the full-court and look as ordinary as a lottery team. 

First they poured in four first-quarter threes and it appeared as if it would be a night the Heat hit the gas, but they decelerated as they were mentally rattled watching Nikola Jović, whose playing time had waned, hurt himself after checking in. He went up for a dunk, got fouled and didn’t have his legs under him, landing on his backside and injuring his arm. 

Powell later erupted to start the second quarter making multiple trifectas and freebies, then Bam Adebayo took over until intermission. 

But when examining the autopsy, one pinpoints the eight early turnovers, which later spiralled to 18, their inability to guard the 3-point line, the weak half-court offense and the bench being outscored by a dozen, as causes for their downfall. 

Naturally, Ingram got where he wanted when he wanted, and Barnes plus rookie Collin Murray-Boyles made all five attempts in the lane. They subsequently went on a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter and never gave back control.

The Heat made only 34.8% of their attempts in the fourth quarter. The closest they could get was within four late, but Jamal Shead maneuvered into the lane for a six-foot floater and Powell lost the ball on the next possession. They flatlined there. 

They lost 106-96 after getting outscored by 16 points in the second half. 

Does anyone remember when the Heat were the third seed on Nov. 28 and their offense was ripping up schemes? That was probably too wild to be true.

One thing is sure: their issues are deeper than Herro’s presence taking up teammates’ shots. They turn into a skinny jeans team when shots aren’t falling, regardless of who is present. One doesn’t need a bigger sign to know that they cannot be trusted.