DETROIT — It could be argued that these next two games were a timeout. Now, with the Miami Heat panting right in the middle of a four-game losing streakthe stakes have certainly been upped on their side of the ledger.
Although the Detroit Pistons haven’t been this season, they have won four of their last five games, entering the pair of games against the Heat on Friday and Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.
Beyond that, after losing to the Washington Wizards at home on Sunday, when the Wizards entered 10-53, it’s not like the Heat can take anyone lightly, even the 12-ranked Pistons -53.
“It’s a sense of urgency at an unprecedented level,” Heat forward Caleb Martin said, “but you also have to stay calm. We have a lot of guys who have won a lot in this locker room, so they’re been here before. They know how it’s done. We’re following their lead. We have a lot of confidence in these guys and they have a lot of confidence in us for the future.
“And that’s just part of the game. We have to figure it out.” We really want to find out now.
With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the Heat face another round of play-ins, where one or two losses would mean elimination before the start of the best-of-seven first round of the playoffs. .and, instead, a ticket to the draft lottery (yes, the Heat have their own first-round pick for 2024).
Since January 1, the Heat are 16-16.
“I feel like it’s a slip-up,” center Bam Adebayo said. “We don’t communicate enough.”
There were also some that the Heat couldn’t communicate with, with Tyler Herro and Kevin Love being sidelined.
Herro did not travel Thursday and missed his 10th straight game as the Heat listed him with medial tendinitis in his right foot.
Love also didn’t start Thursday, after missing the last seven games with a bruised right heel.
Coach Erik Spoelstra offered little clarity regarding Herro.
“He’s making progress,” Spoelstra said. “I have nothing left for you. But he does everything he needs to do.
The Heat remain without Josh Richardson (season-ending shoulder surgery) and with Jamal Cain and Alondes Williams on G League assignments.
Additionally, Adebayo is listed as suspect with a lower back contusion. Martin is listed as available with a sprained left thumb.
Three points down
One of the ways the Nuggets were able to win 100-88 on Wednesday night was by limiting the Heat to 21 3-point attempts. It’s a number that Spoelstra says needs to change.
The Heat closed 5 of 21 from beyond the arc.
“To me, it felt like we passed up some open threes,” Spoelstra said. “I don’t think it would have taken 43 attempts. But definitely, it should have been 10, 12 more. We left out the open models and then tailored them to size.
“We definitely had to take a few more.” »
Martin said the Pistons were playing the Heat for the 3-pointer.
“They kind of scattered,” Martin said. “When the ball goes to the middle, they encourage the middle and long twos. They do an excellent job of distribution.
Closing a step
With seven more points, Heat Forward Jimmy Butler will become the 65th player in the league to score 1,000 points this season. This will be his 10th straight season with at least 1,000, including all five seasons with the Heat.
With 1,000 points, Butler will become one of six active players in the league to extend their streak to 10 consecutive seasons or more, joining LeBron James (21st), DeMar DeRozan (14), James Harden (13), Giannis Antetoukounmpo ( 10). ) and Tobias Harris (10). Russell Westbrook has an active streak of 15 consecutive seasons scoring at least 1,000 points, but has yet to extend that streak this season (641 points in 64 games with the Clippers) and is now out with a hand injury.
