MIAMI — The time off was appreciated, but the spot on the bench wasn’t particularly comfortable for Bam Adebayo.
After dealing with lingering discomfort from a lower back bruise, relief for the Miami Heat center came in the form of an off night Wednesday in Cleveland. But that didn’t make the process any less excruciating, as Adebayo watched the Heat win tense 107-104 against Cleveland Cavaliers to close out a 3-1 trip.
Adebayo said his first game since Dec. 16 was the product of a conversation with coach Erik Spoelstra and followed Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jovic being cleared to return Wednesday after their two respective absences.
“I sat down, had a conversation with the coach,” Adebayo said. “We got the guys back, so he told me it was time to get one.”
He should come back for Friday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the start of the four-game homestand at Kaseya Center, officially listed as questionable.
“More maintenance than anything,” Adebayo said of Wednesday’s break. ” Everything will be alright. »
In his first year as Heat captain, Adebayo said the bench voice role remained an adjustment.
“I don’t like to talk on the sidelines, being that captain,” he said. “I love being out there and trying to help my guys win.”
That’s not to say he didn’t appreciate the sensational performance of guard Terry Rozier, who scored nine points in Wednesday’s finale in 1:24, including a four-point play, to give the victory at the Heat.
“Terry made some big plays,” Adebayo said.
Adebayo, who is on a four-game 3-point streak, noted Rozier’s two late 3-pointers.
“I told him he was trying to be like me,” Adebayo said with a smile.
Injury report
In addition to Adebayo being listed as questionable, Tyler Herro (foot), Kevin Love (heel) and Duncan Robinson (back) remain listed as out for the Heat for Friday against the Pelicans.
Additionally, Alondes Williams is back in the G League with his two-way contract.
Caleb Martin (thumb) and Jovic (hamstring) are listed as available.
Robinson’s diagnosis is left facet syndrome, with treatment to dictate his return, which could be as early as next week.
Hometown Heroes
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Rozier savored his moment Wednesday, taking control at the end of his 24-point performance, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds left.
“My teammates and coaches kept reminding me who I am,” Rozier said. “They told me to keep shooting. Knowing that my guys believed in me meant a lot.
Doing it in front of family and friends was also meaningful.
“Terry put on a show, man, with half the arena there to see him,” Butler said. “Basketball is supposed to be fun and to get to do it a little bit in your cradle, in front of your people, was something.”
Rozier’s performance took some of the pressure off Butler, who scored 30 goals after missing the previous two games with a bruised foot.
“That’s why we went after Terry,” Spoelstra said of the Jan. 23 trade that sent Kyle Lowry and a future protected first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets. “We wanted to have another guy who could make things happen late in the game. He’s always been that type of player in big moments with Charlotte and of course with Boston. »
Others too
Spoelstra also praised Jovic, who missed the previous two games with a hamstring strain. Spoelstra encouraged Jovic to space the court in Robinson’s injury absence, with Jovic going 4 of 10 from 3-point range in his 14-point performance.
“Niko was great,” Spoelstra said. “He really worked the last few days to be available and produce, gave us space, gave us plays, knocked down threes, gave us intangible plays.”
Veteran guard Patty Mills also got his due from Spoelstra, who made his first Heat start, closing with 10 points and four assists.
“Patty is such a savvy veteran player that if you don’t look beyond the shooting numbers, you don’t see all the nuances of how he helps,” Spoelstra said, with Mills 1 of 8 from 3-point range. in Cleveland. “He’s been an asset in virtually every game he’s played, and he’s definitely impacting our offense with his spacing and movement.”
