DALLAS – Even with the Dallas Mavericks entering with losses in five of their previous six, it was a step up in the competition after the Miami Heat notched recent victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and the Detroit Pistons.
The Heat fell short of the challenge, losing 114-108 Thursday night at the American Airlines Center.
Despite a torrid start to 3-point shooting, a must-win start from Duncan Robinson and solid numbers from Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier, the Heat proved unable to seize the moment.
“They just made plays,” Robinson said. “They made more plays than us in the last sequence. We obviously have to be better in the closing matches.
The ante is up now, with the Heat heading into a Friday night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder to close out this back-to-back set.
With Jimmy Butler seemingly limited after injuring his left wrist in the first half and tested by double teams all night, the Heat proved unable to meet the challenge of Luka Doncic, who closed with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, his fifth. consecutive triple-doubles of 30 points.
Robinson closed with five 3-pointers and 19 points, with Butler scoring 14. From Rozier came a Heat career-high 27 points and 11 assists, with Adebayo adding 14 points and nine rebounds.
“I just didn’t make it,” Rozierc said. “It’s regrettable.”
Five degrees of heat during Thursday night’s game:
1. Closing time: The Heat took an early 15-point lead, leading 36-28 at the end of the first quarter and 58-54 at halftime.
Dallas then took its first lead, at 69-68 in the third quarter, later pushing the advantage to 11 before entering the fourth down 91-83, with Doncic scoring 17 in the third.
The Mavericks scored 37 in the third, with the Heat combining for just 47 in the second and third periods.
And then, with 7:21 left, it was tied 95-95.
From there, 3-pointers from Dante Exum, Donic and Kyrie Irving put Dallas up 109-104 with 1:28 left, ending it.
Doncic’s 3-pointer bobbled as the shot clock ended.
“I think he opted out based on what we saw,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who had no challenge left. “But we couldn’t see it. I think they’re supposed to look into that. We would tell them to look at it just to see if it was a two or a three. I think if they saw that, I think it might change.
“But Doncic, I’ve seen that play a lot. End of the buzzer and he just made a big one from there.
Of Doncic, Adebayo said: “You tip your hat and you keep moving forward. »
2. Changing the rotation: The Heat opened for the fifth straight game with a lineup consisting of Butler, Adebayo, Robinson, Rozier and Nikola Jovic.
But with Kevin Love out again, Spoelstra opted for Thomas Bryant as his backup center instead of Orlando Robinson. It’s the same approach Spoelstra took in the second half of Tuesday night’s home win over the Detroit Pistons.
Although it was the first night of a back-to-back set, Spoelstra kept Orlando Robinson, Delon Wright, Jamal Cain, Alondes Williams and newcomer Patty Mills out of the mix.
3. Always on the move: Robinson hit his shot again, closing the first half 5-of-5 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range.
This allowed him to beat Doncic 14-12 at intermission.
Robinson then converted a 3-pointer on his first attempt to improve to 6 of 6 and 5 of 5, with a driving layup making it 7 of 7.
Robinson’s first miss came with 3:39 left in the third period, when he went for a 3-point attempt. He was then forced to return to the bench shortly after with his fourth foul.
He closed 7 of 10 from the field 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
“It’s always good to make a few shots,” Robinson said. “But obviously I want to do it in a winning effort. So it’s disappointing. But I have a short-term memory and we’ll have another one tomorrow.
4. The wrist of history: Butler was clutching his left wrist after a second-quarter attempt was blocked by Maxi Kleber,
Butler stayed in the game, with six points and four turnovers in the first half, going 1 of 2 from the line.
He was then back among the starters at the start of the second half, but did not score his 10 minutes in the third quarter, with only two shots in the quarter.
“I’ll be fine. Just some hand stuff,” Butler said. “It’s part of the game and we need to play it now more than ever.”
Plenty of effort was also put in defensively, with Butler taking assignment from Doncic.
Butler closed 6 of 12 from the field and 1 of 2 from both the foul line and 3-pointers, adding five assists and four rebounds.
“I mean, it’s expected, honestly,” said Butler, who also closed with six turnovers. “I think I just need to pick my spots better, without turning the ball over too much.”
5. Pending Debut: In uniform for the first time as a member of the Heat, Mills did not see action Thursday.
But Spoelstra said there are many benefits to adding the 35-year-old point guard.
“I’m excited about it,” Spoelstra said before the game about the signing. “Again, this time of year, to be able to add someone with that much experience, playoff experience, winning experience – and he’s a great teammate – he knows how to to integrate.
“We just think he’s another really good candidate for a lot of different reasons. Stylistically, the way he plays, the way he competes. Offensively, he knows how to create space. And his catch and shoot game, his dribbling and handoff game, is something we already have in our system.
Spoelstra then joked that Mills was a pest on the Heat for much of his 15-season NBA career.
“And also,” Spoelstra said, “we’re just tired of being on the other side of him as the Heat killer. If we can convince him to join us, that’s a really good thing. J I have deep respect for him.
