Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Nikola Jović has career night as the Heat beat the Trail Blazers

Despite 19 lead changes and 11 ties, the undermanned Heat took out the Trail Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back, improving to 6-4. Seven Heatles scored in double figures, and Nikola Jović had his best showing in a Heat uniform, setting a new career high of 29 points.

Coach Erik Spoelstra elaborated on some of the strategy post-game, saying,  “I’m managing the heck out of the spacing, to create those drives. But I’m not putting the brakes on anyone who is attacking.”

Portland’s length gave Miami trouble early, not permitting easy access into the lane and they forced Spoelstra to call the first timeout after taking a 15-3 lead. The Heat didn’t recalibrate until Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the bench crew came in, and they prevented the team from early embarrassment with multiple drive-bys and five steals, including a pick-6 in opposing territory, cutting the deficit to three going into the second quarter.

Rebounding out of the zone against bigger rivals was a struggle, and high-enough pick-up points weren’t set on shooters, but they made up for it, forcing six extra turnovers. The Heat also converted 77% of attempts in the period with near-immaculate shooting in the lane from punching the accelerator in transition and ripping up the half-court.

The Heatles went to intermission ahead 72-65 after making only one shot in their first 15 attempts. Nikola Jović led them in assists (6), and their double-digit scorers were Dru Smith (10), Andrew Wiggins (12) and Pelle Larsson (10).

Subsequently, Deni Avdija plus Jrue Holiday’s rim attacks sullied schemes, but Toumani Camara walking into triple forced the first stoppage of the half. Jaquez checked in, and the Heat regained control just like in the first half off transition strikes and setting up teammates, including a lob to Kel’el Ware.

The fourth quarter started with the Heat ahead 100-97, and 10 lead changes followed. Shaedon Sharpe sliced into lane thrice, and Avdija buried a trey. But Jović stepped up for the Heat, making two 3-pointers and two close-range baskets on the move. Jaquez joked in the locker room that Jović should have dropped 30.

In the latter stages of the fourth, Jerami Grant fouled out, and Clingan checked in, and the Heat’s strategy was briefly using Wiggins at the five before switching back to Jović at the next substitution. The Heat were then up five points with under a minute left, and got bailed out by Holiday missing a triple after Jaquez bit on his pump fake and they doubled at the arc. The final nail in Portland’s coffin was Avdija taking a shot at the rim instead of pulling up from deep.

The Heat won 136-131. They had an advantage in paint points (72-68) and were able to slow down the Trail Blazers in the half-court to 77.5 points per 100 possessions, good enough for the Cleaning the Glass.