Miami Heat

No Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, against a red-hot Milwaukee Bucks team that had won 10 of its last 11 games?

No problem.

The Miami Heat stunned the Bucks on Wednesday night, 113-104, without their two best players in action.

Instead, they were led by Caleb Martin's career night, 16 fourth-quarter points from Max Strus and a vintage defensive performance, limiting Giannis Antetokounmpo to just 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field.

The Strus???? Oh yeah. He's loose.@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/7srZimI0Lu

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) December 9, 2021

ANOTHER KZ REJECTION 😤@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/mo5XtBBJF9

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) December 9, 2021

Heat hand the Bucks their first loss of this season when Giannis, Middleton, and Jrue are all in the lineup.

— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) December 9, 2021

The fear coming into the game was that the Heat might languish on the offensive end without Butler and Adebayo. The former re-aggravated a tailbone injury Monday, which ruled him out for the Bucks game Wednesday. The latter is out four to six weeks after having surgery this week on a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Instead, the Heat moved to 15-11 on the season and now lead the season series over the Bucks, 2-1, getting some revenge for Saturday's 124-102 loss to them. Milwaukee dropped to 16-10 on the year.

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Key Stats

Kyle Lowry, MIA: 22 points, 13 assists

Caleb Martin, MIA: 28 points, eight rebounds

Max Strus, MIA: 16 points, 4-of-7 from three

Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL: 15 points, six rebounds, four assists

Jrue Holiday, MIL: 27 points, four assists

Khris Middleton, MIL: 20 points

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Caleb Martin Had Himself a Night

When a team is missing two stars, there has to be a role player who steps up in a major way to pick up the slack. Martin was that man Wednesday.

He's been picking up steam of late. Coming into Wednesday night, he had averaged a solid 12 points per game in his last five contests, well over his average (6.7 PPG) this season. He continued his surprising ascension against the Bucks, serving as a solid running mate for Lowry while setting a career-high in the process.

Caleb Martin sets a new career-high in STYLE 💥

24 PTS and 6 3PM as the @MiamiHEAT and Bucks go back and forth on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/a01tLbMNtR

— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2021

CALEB MARTIN REJECTS BOBBY PORTIS 😤@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/a3mfXAikX5

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) December 9, 2021

Caleb Martin was 𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 in the first half for Miami!@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/wVWsolotbE

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) December 9, 2021

Not too shabby for a guy on a two-way contract.

I can’t believe Caleb Martin has legitimately been the best player on a floor featuring a multi-time MVP, a fringe HOFer, and two other All-stars lol

— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) December 9, 2021

Caleb Martin thriving on day All-Star balloting is announced. Coincidence?

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) December 9, 2021

Caleb Martin is bonkers tonight!!

— Will Manso (@WillManso) December 9, 2021

The 26-year-old Martin has been a role player to this point in his career, and once Butler returns, he'll likely see his minutes decrease. But he's certainly making a strong case to be a regular contributor for the Heat going forward.

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Jrue Holiday Was Efficiency Personified

Antetokounmpo had a subdued offensive night, at least by his standards, against a Miami team that also plays him tough and has a solid defensive plan to slow him down. And Middleton struggled to get his shot to fall consistently.

So Holiday handled the heavy lifting on the offensive end instead and did so while shooting a clean 12-of-17 from the field.

Jrue Holiday drops 13 PTS in the third quarter and has 24 for the game!@Bucks and Heat head into Q4 on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/LabNFJ8VJg

— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2021

Holiday is generally Milwaukee's third offensive option behind Antetokounmpo and Middleton. But without his solid performance Wednesday, this game would have gotten ugly.

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What's Next?

Milwaukee travels to Houston to face the Rockets on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. The Heat will host the Chicago Bulls on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo will undergo surgery on his right thumb to repair a torn UCL. 

Per an official statement from the team, Adebayo's surgery will take place this weekend, and his return timetable will be determined after the procedure.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Heat center is expected to miss between four and six weeks. 

However, Jeff Stotts of InStreetClothes.com and Rotowire noted the average return from UCL surgery takes roughly seven weeks:

Re: Bam Adebayo: The average time lost for in-season surgery to repair a torn UCL of the thumb is 26 games (~7 weeks). Chris Paul and Marcus Smart returned to the quickest, missing 39 days (14 games) and 44 days (15 games), respectively.

— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) December 1, 2021

An absence of four to six weeks would keep Adebayo out for as many as 21 games if he takes the full six weeks to recover. 

Adebayo suffered the injury during Monday's 120-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets. There was no indication it was an issue, as he played 35 minutes and had a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds. 

The Heat listed Adebayo as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers before the announcement that he had to undergo surgery. 

Losing Adebayo for a significant period of time will impact on Miami in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The team is tied with the Washington Wizards for first place in the Southeast Division with a 13-8 record. 

Adebayo leads the Heat in rebounds (10.2 per game) and ranks third in scoring (18.7 points per game). He is a driving force behind their success on defense and has been named to the All-Defensive second team each of the past two seasons. 

Until Adebayo returns, head coach Erik Spoelstra will likely go with Dewayne Dedmon as his starting center.     

The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls have been forced to forfeit their next second-round draft picks as punishment for violating the NBA's tampering rules. 

Per an official statement from the NBA, it was determined both clubs "violated league rules governing the timing of this season's free-agency discussions" regarding their acquisitions of Kyle Lowry (Heat) and Lonzo Ball (Bulls). 

The following has been announced by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/SDE7TcwtmE

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 1, 2021

The Heat issued a statement on Twitter responding to the league's announcement:

pic.twitter.com/Y3j3Y5fYCv

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 1, 2021

The Heat and Bulls agreed to sign-and-trade deals to acquire Lowry and Ball in separate moves on Aug. 2, the day the NBA's free-agency negotiating period began. 

Chicago gave Ball a four-year, $85 million contract and sent Garrett Temple, Tomas Satoransky, a 2024 second-round draft pick and cash to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the sign-and-trade agreement. 

Miami sent Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa to the Toronto Raptors in the deal for Lowry, who received a three-year, $85 million contract from the Heat. 

Five days later, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported the league opened a tampering investigation into both deals to "examine illegal contact among teams and players" before the start of free agency. 

Wojnarowski reported on Nov. 12 that the NBA's investigation had "reached the advanced stages" with the league having completed "numerous interviews with team executives and player agents and gathered electronic messaging" from front-office members of the four teams involved (Heat, Bulls, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Pelicans). 

Wednesday's announcement marks the first time a team has been docked a draft pick for tampering since December 2020. The Milwaukee Bucks had to forfeit their 2022 second-round selection for having illegal contact with Bogdan Bogdanovic and/or his agent in the offseason.    

The Denver Nuggets snapped a six-game losing streak with a 120-111 win over the Miami Heat on Monday at FTX Arena.

This was the first meeting between the two teams since Nikola Jokic's shove of Markieff Morris that resulted in a one-game suspension for the reigning MVP.

Longtime Heat forward Udonis Haslem said any drama stemming from the incident was done.

"You're talking to somebody who has seen everything but the wind," he said to the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang. "I've seen it all. That's over with."

The Jokic brothers were in attendance, but the game unfolded with minimal drama. Denver took control early on and didn't relent as it coasted to a straightforward victory.

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Notable Performers

Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets: 24 points (9-14 FG; 1-2 3PT), 15 rebounds, seven assists, one steal

Aaron Gordon, PF, Nuggets: 20 points (6-11 FG; 2-4 3PT), four rebounds, five assists

Bam Adebayo, C, Heat: 24 points (11-19 FG), 13 rebounds, six assists

Kyle Lowry, PG, Heat: 17 points (5-9 FG; 2-5 3PT), two rebounds, 14 assists

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Jokic Powers Nuggets in Return

Denver's recent slide was partially because of Jokic missing the last four games with a right wrist sprain.

Jamal Murray is recuperating from a torn ACL, Michael Porter Jr. is dealing with a back injury that will require surgery, and P.J. Dozier was lost for the year to a torn ACL. Not surprisingly, the injury-ravaged Nuggets are at least a little more formidable when Jokic is manning the paint.

The 6'11" center was excellent on Monday, and situations like this help underline his value to the franchise.

It’s rather hilarious how some tried to question Nikola Jokic’s MVP, when it’s been clear for a while how his mere presence on the floor makes everyone around him better. Then, you have a game like this, where you know his competitiveness is raging, like, “You ain’t punkin’ me.”

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) November 30, 2021

Casually slingin' it to the opposite corner pic.twitter.com/9dlSVxxKx3

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 30, 2021

17 & 9 in the first half like it's nothing 😤 pic.twitter.com/kXNUYEamv9

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 30, 2021

As a whole, Denver's offense fired on all cylinders. The team shot 58.1 percent from the floor and went 18-of-35 from beyond the arc.

Every time the Heat looked like building some momentum and trimming the deficit to manageable level, the Nuggets responded on the other end.

Gabe Vincent and Facundo Campazzo trade triples before the buzzer 🚨 #CenterCourt https://t.co/xWnppHKCyH

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 30, 2021

Bizzy from the Boneyard‼️ pic.twitter.com/QENTj1kn0E

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 30, 2021

Denver slipped to 10th in the Western Conference thanks to its downturn in form. Another top-four challenge will be tough without Murray, Porter and Dozier, but things are at least looking a little better with Jokic healthy.

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Shorthanded Heat Unable to Climb out of Early Hole

Whereas the Nuggets welcomed back their best player, the Heat were without theirs. A tailbone injury took Jimmy Butler out the lineup. Compounding matters, Tyler Herro (illness) and Markieff Morris (neck) were unavailable as well.

Miami got solid contributions from Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry.

Kyle Lowry finds Dewayne Dedmon for the oop 🤝 #CenterCourt https://t.co/QyapkGJ03X

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 30, 2021

Make that 17 & 13 for Kyle 👀@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/ntiK6D0jOW

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) November 30, 2021

Bam Adebayo finishes through contact 😤 #CenterCourt https://t.co/MhESA5uf0O

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 30, 2021

Unfortunately for head coach Erik Spoelstra, he didn't have the horses to keep pace with Denver. At halftime, the Nuggets held a 20-point lead, 63-43, and their hot shooting the rest of the way nullified any progress the Heat were making.

End of third quarter: Nuggets 95, Heat 78. Miami scored 35 points in the third but could not trim much off its deficit because of Denver's 8-of-14 three-point shooting in the period.

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) November 30, 2021

Spoelstra and his staff can probably identify plenty of defensive breakdowns from Monday, but sometimes it's just not your night. If anything, he might take some satisfaction from his players outscoring Denver 68-57 in the second half.

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What's Next?

The Heat and Nuggets are both back in action Wednesday. Denver tips off at 7 p.m. ET against the Orlando Magic, while Miami's clash with the Cleveland Cavaliers is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler will miss Monday's game against the Denver Nuggets because of a tailbone contusion.

Butler won't be the only player absent for the Heat, however. Tyler Herro and Markieff Morris will also be sidelined:

#DENvsMIA INJURY UPDATE: Jimmy Butler (tailbone), Tyler Herro (illness) & Markieff Morris (neck) have all been ruled out of tonight’s game vs the Nuggets.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 29, 2021

This will mark the first time since Nov. 15 that Butler will be out of the lineup.

Butler suffered a sprained ankle during Miami's 120-117 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 10. He did play the entire first quarter, scoring seven points, but head coach Erik Spoelstra held him for the rest of the game.

Spoelstra told reporters after the game the Heat were waiting until the five-time All-Star could undergo more tests before providing an update on his availability going forward. He ultimately missed three games.

The Heat are off to a strong start this season. Their 13-7 record ranks second in the Eastern Conference, and their +6.4 net rating is the fourth-best mark in the NBA, per Basketball Reference.

Butler has been the driving force behind Miami's success since joining the team before the 2019-20 season. He leads the team in scoring (23.6 points per game) and is shooting 51.9 percent from the field.

Miami has alternated wins and losses the past five games. If it's going to win back-to-back games for the first time since mid-November, it's going to have to do so without Butler, Herro and Morris.

Kyle Lowry signed with the Miami Heat on a three-year, $85 million deal this summer after nine seasons with the Toronto Raptors. 

Lowry told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated on Monday that it was the right decision for him and his family but that he'll still ultimately retire as a Raptor:

I still text [Toronto general manager Bobby Webster]. I still text [Raptors president Masai Ujiri]. There are no hard feelings. We've all had an open line of communication. And for me, it was very bittersweet because I never wanted to leave. But it was more a sense of: 'All right, my kids are getting older. I want to be somewhere where they can be stable no matter what.'

And, yeah, everybody says you could just live in Canada, but you'd have to get a Canadian citizenship to live there. And I don't think I would've lived there for the rest of my life. But I'll be able to go back. That's still home. Like I've said, and I'll say it now, I will sign a one-day contract and I'll retire as a Toronto Raptor. That is my everything.

It's been a good start to the 2021-22 campaign for Lowry and the Heat, who are 11-6 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The veteran point guard is averaging 12.0 points, 7.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three. 

The Heat have legitimate title aspirations. Lowry already won one with the 2018-19 Raptors. Getting a second championship ring before retirement matters to him.

"It's what we play for. If you're not playing to win the championship, what are you playing for? Just to be cool and be good?" he said. "We're going to get paid. That's awesome. I love getting paid, but I want to win the championship, and everyone that's won a championship will explain this and understand that this is a high you cannot match."

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro will miss Thursday's game against the Washington Wizards with a wrist injury. 

The 21-year-old posted 21.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game this season.

The Heat selected Herro with the 13th pick in the 2019 draft. He then proceeded to help the team reach the NBA Finals thanks to a scorching postseason that featured him averaging 19.2 points against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. He notably dropped 37 in Game 4.

The Kentucky product's second year ended with him averaging 15.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He started 15 of his 54 contests, shooting 43.9 percent from the field (36.0 percent from three-point range).

That campaign was hindered by three different injuries. Neck spasms kept him on the bench for seven games in January, a hip pointer sidelined him for three games in late February and a sore right foot kept him out for six games in late April and early May.

Herro is Heat's primary backup guard behind Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson. Without him, look for Miami to turn more toward Gabe Vincent (at the 1 or 2) or Max Strus (at shooting guard).

Victor Oladipo, who re-signed with Miami on a one-year deal this offseason, continues to rehab his right knee after getting surgery in May 2021. He'll add depth to the backcourt alongside Herro, Vincent and Strus when he's back, though he still lacks a return timeline.

The Miami Heat already have Kyle Lowry, but they would reportedly be interested in landing another veteran point guard if he became available.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami would consider signing John Wall if his contract with the Houston Rockets was bought out.

Still, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski previously reported that is quite unlikely since the University of Kentucky product is not inclined to give up the $44.4 million in salary he is making this season or his $47.4 million player option for next season.

Wojnarowski explained any team that traded for Wall would want him to decline his upcoming player option.

"There are no plans for John Wall to play for the Rockets, and it's becoming increasingly likely that John Wall may not play anywhere in the NBA this season because the cost of his contract right now is just too prohibitive," Wojnarowski said.

From Houston's perspective, the team is in the early stages of a rebuild and is focusing on the development of young players such as Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.

There was a time when Wall was among the best point guards in the league.

He used his explosive athleticism to get out in transition or blow past defenders in half-court sets and was a five-time All-Star during his time with the Washington Wizards. He averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game across nine seasons with the Wizards.

However, injuries have been a major problem during the second half of his career.

He played just 41 games in 2017-18, 32 games in 2018-19 and 40 games in 2020-21. He also missed the entire 2019-20 campaign with a torn Achilles.

While he is someone with playoff experience who could provide a spark for the Heat off the bench, it seems like a long shot that he will be returning to the court anytime soon.         

The NBA's tampering investigations into the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat for their sign-and-trade acquisitions of Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry, respectively, are entering the "advanced stages," per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday's edition of NBA Countdown (25-second mark of video).

Wojnarowski said that penalties could include a fine of up to $10 million per team, the loss of draft picks and the suspension of team executives.

Wojnarowski and ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported on Aug. 7 that the league was looking into possible tampering violations on the Bulls' and Heat's parts, with a focus on early contact ahead of the free agency period:

NBA is expected to examine early contact on those deals ahead of the opening of free agency at 6 PM ET on Monday, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/Bl90sO2qj1

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 7, 2021

The Bulls acquired Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans for Garrett Temple, Tomas Satoransky, a 2024 second-round draft pick and cash considerations. Ball signed with the Bulls for four years and $85 million.

The Heat got Lowry from the Toronto Raptors for Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa. Lowry signed with Miami for three years and $85 million.

Both acquisitions have proved fruitful for those teams. The 8-3 Bulls are tied for first in the Eastern Conference, with Ball averaging 12.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Lowry is posting 12.1 points, 7.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game for the 7-5 Heat.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 120-117 in overtime on Wednesday at Staples Center.

The Lakers trailed 106-97 in the fourth quarter, but L.A. point guard Russell Westbrook shined down the stretch. He had six points and six assists in the fourth quarter alone, notably hitting a jumper for a 112-110 lead with 27.4 seconds left.

Heat forward P.J. Tucker responded with a put-back dunk for a 112-all tie. The Lakers couldn't get the game-winning bucket in the final possession, leading to OT.

The slam that tied it up in the final seconds 🔨 pic.twitter.com/XFUtoIWAos

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 11, 2021

Once there, Heat guard Tyler Herro shot a game-winning three-point attempt in the final seconds, but his shot did not connect.

Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony hit 1-of-2 free throws after getting fouled, and the Heat got the ball down 120-117 with six seconds remaining.

Herro, who dropped 27 points, then had a chance for a game-tying three but could not hit that one either.

The Heat played without Jimmy Butler after the first quarter. The five-time All-Star suffered a sprained right ankle that forced him to leave after seven points in 12 minutes. The Lakers played their fourth straight game without LeBron James, who is out with an abdominal strain.

    

Notable Performances

Heat C Bam Adebayo: 28 points, 10 rebounds, 6 steals

Heat G Tyler Herro: 27 points

Heat G Kyle Lowry: 18 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds

Heat F P.J. Tucker: 10 points, 13 rebounds

Lakers F/C Anthony Davis: 24 points, 13 rebounds

Lakers PG Russell Westbrook: 25 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds

Lakers G Malik Monk: 27 points, 6 rebounds

Lakers F Carmelo Anthony: 12 points, 6 rebounds

    

Westbrook Fantastic Down Stretch in Big Laker Win

Westbrook entered Wednesday on a nasty two-game cold spell that saw the 2016-17 NBA MVP shoot just 6-of-28 from the field and commit 13 turnovers.  That effort included a 1-of-13 shooting performance in a 105-90 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in which L.A. trailed by 31 entering the final quarter.

On Wednesday, none of that mattered as Westbrook dominated when his team needed him most.

Westbrook either scored or assisted on 24 of the Lakers' 30 fourth-quarter points. He kicked things off with this sweet no-look dish to Monk for two:

Court vision on display 👀 pic.twitter.com/MIrnRSjHu4

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 11, 2021

The Monk-Westbrook connection kept clicking even when things were looking bleak for L.A. Down 106-99, Westbrook found Monk on the elbow, and the former Kentucky star drilled a deep three to cut the Heat edge to four:

Malik Monk from DEEEEEP.@Lakers 102@MiamiHEAT 106

4 minutes left on ESPN pic.twitter.com/yhBj3Wp7gD

— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2021

The Lakers turned to Westbrook to take care of this one himself in the final minute of regulation, though, and he answered the call with a pair of buckets.

The second one was awfully impressive as he executed a spin move before hitting a one-legged, off-balance shot for a 112-110 lead. Tucker responded with a dunk of a miss, though, and this game eventually went into OT.

Russ clutch.
PJ Tucker slam.

Tie game on ESPN. Lakers ball. pic.twitter.com/heZQ6Y1R4K

— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2021

Westbrook's teammates largely took over in overtime, with Monk notably hitting this off-balance runner:

Malik Monk.
He's got 27 on 10-13 shooting.@Lakers by 5 with 1:30 left in OT on ESPN pic.twitter.com/fTXtoZYJOf

— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2021

But Westbrook also found Davis for an alley-oop that ended up being the game-winning bucket. At the time, it gave the Lakers a 119-114 lead.

It hasn't been an easy 12 games to start this season for L.A. as the shorthanded team navigates the early portion of the schedule. However, the Lakers still find themselves with a winning record after a pair of tough overtime wins, with the last one being a 126-123 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Lakers will need more games like this from Westbrook to earn their second NBA title in three years. The point guard seems like he's up to the task, however, as evidenced by his gritty performance over an Eastern Conference title contender.

     

Herro’s Heroics Can’t Save Heat

Herro scored 22 of his 27 points after the first quarter, which is the only time Butler saw any action in this game. Miami needed someone to step up and fill the scoring void, and the team got that in bunches from the 21-year-old, who proceeded to shoot lights out for much of the game.

Herro made back-to-back three-pointers in the second quarter en route to 10 in the frame and 15 by halftime:

Tyler's taking over 👌

Back to back 3s from Herro late in the 2nd quarter. pic.twitter.com/9c10Ssf2xS

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 11, 2021

It was an excellent opening half for Herro, who is making cases for Sixth Man and Most Improved Player of the Year consideration.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1458653619939643394

He entered Wednesday averaging 20.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Herro kept it up in the second half, knocking down this three for a 95-93 edge:

Boy Wonder for the lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RrqTke8ULr

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 11, 2021

He later hit a pullup jumper for his 25th point, and a pair of Adebayo free throws right after gave the Heat a 106-97 lead.

Miami could not hold that edge as Westbrook, Monk and Davis did work down the stretch while the Heat failed to respond.

Herro had his chances to help the Heat escape Staples Center with a win, though. It didn't work out, and Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about those opportunities postgame.

Spoelstra says Herro’s first look, “Westbrook jammed him up. That’s part of youth. Tyler wanted to go for the kill. I don’t blame him for that.” But says he could have driven.

“The second look, he had a great look. He bobbled it and still had time. He’s a great clutch player.” pic.twitter.com/7snAY9VAuU

— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) November 11, 2021

It was a tough loss for the Heat, although Miami certainly played well considering that it lost Butler after one quarter. Herro played a big part in that effort, and now the team will look to bounce back as it continues its road trip.

What's Next?

The Heat will stay in town to play the Clippers on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET.

The Lakers will return to the court Friday to welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to L.A. at 10:30 p.m.