Mateo’s Hoop Diary: T.J. McConnell and Bruce Brown extinguish the Heat

Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a rookie night, the infamous turd quarter returned, two players went down, and defense was an afterthought in the Heat’s loss at home to the up-and-coming Pacers. In Bam Adebayo’s absence, Orlando Robinson and Kevin Love contributed 30 points and six rebounds, and the Heat’s frontcourt still got outworked. Miami’s record in games decided by three points or fewer is 2-1.

Haywood Highsmith was the first wounded with back spasms fewer than three minutes in and was replaced by Caleb Martin.

In the opening quarter, Duncan Robinson unleashed two triples and an inside floater. Kevin Love was the set-up man with outlet passes and feeds to cutters from the key. And Martin added six points.

But Indiana’s reserves got anything they wanted because the Heat couldn’t stay in front of the ball or slow its transition attack. Aside from that, Miami over-helped defending pick and roll, allowing multiple paint entries and conceding the corners a few times in the zone.

Who needs Tyrese Haliburton? Indiana’s T.J. McConnell turned into prime Kyle Lowry, attacking off the dribble and dishing to open cutters plus snipers.

Through the first half, the game was tied at 65, but the Pacers’ bench accumulated 44 points to the Heat’s 34. Most problematic for the hosts was permitting 42 points in the square on 72% shooting.

Subsequently, the Heat had one of its worst defensive quarters of the season, allowing 41 points on over 76% of the Pacers’ tries. Ten of those points for Indiana came on the break as triples or feeds to Obi Toppin or Buddy Hield. In the halfcourt, Aaron Nesmith powered past Josh Richardson, too.

If it weren’t for Jimmy Butler taking over for Miami in the third, it would have been an ugly beatdown. He blew past defenders off the dribble on the baseline, maneuvered the post and assisted three times.

Miami entered the fourth quarter down 98-106, and it let go of the rope further. The Pacers logged 14 of 17 field goals despite five of coach Erik Spoelstra’s trusted seven recording heavy minutes. Richardson played three minutes because of a left knee contusion, which left him walking carefully in the locker room after the game.

McConnell found the open big in the middle and outside. And Brown dusted JJJ on the baseline for a layup and hit two trifectas.

It’s not often that the Heat’s offense is in top gear while it’s run off the court, but that was the case Saturday. Indiana scored 132 points per 100 half-court plays and 90% on looks at the rim. It was also the highest field goal percentage an opponent has ever registered against the Heat in a game (65.6).

In Heat history, the squad has given up at least 60% of baskets 22 times. Its record in those matches is 1-21.

At the postgame presser, Spoelstra was displeased with Miami’s ability to stay in front of the ball. He said it was “one of our worst ball containment games of the season.”

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