Searching for its fourth win in a row, the Miami Heat started RJ Hampton at point guard next to Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo, overpowering the Warriors at Chase Center. Jimmy Butler (calf), Kyle Lowry (soreness), Josh Richardson (back) and Caleb Martin (ankle) were all absent, but the group still supplied 60 points in the paint.

In the first six minutes, the Heat’s attack looked potent as Adebayo moved in the paint for multiple jumpers, and Herro plus Jaquez scored from inside and out. But then it bogged down, suffering a 5-16 run by Golden State to end the quarter as it made one of its last 13 attempts.

Subsequently, coach Erik Spoelstra subbed in Nikola Jovic all of frame two, and the Heat’s 2-3 zone held the Warriors to two of seven trays. The 2-2-1 press was also used to slow down the ball coming up court. In five minutes, Jamal Cain’s activity disrupted the hosts’ actions by playing like a free safety.

Offensively, the visitors erupted for 36 points as five Heatles recorded multiple baskets, yet comically, bucket-getting rookie Jaquez had no points but three dimes. Baseline cuts, transition dunks, corner triples and blow bys put the Heat ahead 57-51 at intermission.

Before quarter three, the Heat squeezed 12 points out of the Warriors’ nine turnovers and scored 30 in the box while making five of 14 triples. No turnovers, two fewer rebounds, and less trips to the line produced nine additional field goal attempts for the Heat. Herro and Adebayo combined for 25 points on 10 of 22 shots.

Then Jaquez put the guests in control. He bumped Brandin Podziemski away for a hook, spun past Jonathan Kuminga in the post, pump-faked Klay Thompson into the air and faded over him on the baseline, and pierced the Warriors’ zone for a four-foot layup.

And Cain, who had registered just 130 minutes for the season, added eight points, pivoting around Trayce Jackson-Davis for a layup, finishing on the break and scoring at the dunker spot.

The Heat entered the fourth quarter ahead 91-76. Defensively, the squad protected the 3-point line well, contesting all eight Warrior attempts, permitting one to fall. Cain checked Curry, forcing a failed long-two and was blown by and the next attempt, but Jovic, the help defender, influenced the miss at close range.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr kept Curry in less than seven minutes of the fourth.

The Heat’s offense logged 34.8% of its tries in the last interval, but it was just outscored by three.  It won on the road 114-102. The Heat scored 60 paint points on 30 of 51 ventures. Even with a quiet night from Duncan Robinson (five points), the reserves contributed 44 points in contrast to Golden State’s bench having 51.

At the postgame presser, Spoelstra said the team wanted to set the tone at the start of its five-game Western road trip. On the topic of Hampton, Cain and Jovic’s minutes, the coach was complimentary. “Without those three guys and their contributions tonight, we are not winning this game…”

In the locker room, Herro was asked about involving them, too. He said the guys have a “next man up mentality, being able to fufill [roles] for the guys who are out.”

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The NBA’s fourth-slotted XMAS day matchup of 76ers @ Miami was more eventful than anticipated considering the absences of MVP Joel Embiid- a no-go with a sprained ankle for the visitors- and Jimmy Butler- out for the hosts because of an illness and calf strain. It didn’t matter. The 76ers got within striking distance late. The Heat were carried by rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. And there was even an R.J. Hampton sighting.

Early, the Heat went down double digits because Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro were exploited off the dribble, Jaquez was backed down by Tobias Harris and Caleb Martin failed to recover to the corner in time on a kick out to, again, Harris. But Jaquez and Bam Adebayo unbuttoned the offense for the Heat with a storm of inside cuts through the middle, post-ups, transition attacks and a pull-up jumper.

But the first to go down was Martin, who had five rebounds nearly eight minutes in. He hurt his right ankle, tracking a loose ball out of bounds. He labored through subsequent possessions, but coach Erik Spoelstra subbed Jamal Cain in, ending Martin’s night.

To start the second quarter, Lowry caught and elevated for a layup in the lane but got tripped by Harris, getting him clipped in the back of the head by Adebayo’s knee.

Cain issued a take foul on the following play, and Lowry wobbled on the way up with the help of his teammates. He wasn’t medically examined after almost getting knocked out. Apparently, someone needs to have a seizure from excess contact to the head for concussion protocol to take effect at Kaseya Center.

As the interval progressed, Tyrese Maxey, who missed six tries in the first, misfired over Cain and Hampton’s tentacles. Yet, Philadelphia’s backup center, Mohamed Bamba, converted six of seven shots from inside and out. His issue was failing to stop Herro’s floater and Kevin Love’s deep jumper.

Before halftime, Herro also hit a fall-away shot in the corner plus another on the same side over Kelly Oubre and cut through the center for a left-handed layup. Adebayo scored seven more points. And JJJ spun past Oubre for a close-range finish and scored again in transition.

At halftime, the Heat were ahead 63-49, with two points scored off turnovers, eleven on the break, four from second chances and 26 in the paint. Herro, Adebayo and Jaquez combined for 44 points on 17 of 30 attempts. In that span, the hosts held Philadelphia to 35.8% shooting.

In the third quarter, the Heat fell apart defensively, conceding 37 points in a weak zone and man coverage. Maxey was still struggling, but Oubre, Melton and Harris battered the Heat with triples and drive-bys.

In this frame, Herro bricked five trays as Philly contested cleanly after the catch. But Jaquez was depended on, canning an open corner trifecta, seizing the baseline for a layup and pulling up from 17 feet away.

Both squads were tied at 86 entering the fourth quarter and, because they couldn’t defend without fouling, were in the bonus with under eight minutes to go. Philadelphia made seven of 13 freebies, and Miami logged 13 of 14. Aside from that, Jaquez cut again on the baseline, this time for a dunk, plus swished a floater over Harris in the paint. And Adebayo scored three more baskets in the lane.

The Heat won 119-113, finishing with a 20-point rebound advantage and 10 more free throw attempts. In the half court, Miami scored 103.2 points per 100 of those plays, good enough for the 66th percentile of all games this season, per Cleaning the Glass.

Jaquez, who had a career night of 31 points on 11 of 15 shots and 10 rebounds, handled the on-court interview. He said, “It was a great team effort all around.”

At the postgame presser, Adebayo was also pleased. He said, “We got the W and that’s most important because Spo is still undefeated (9-0) on Christmas.”

Jimmy Butler missed his second straight game (sixth total), but Jaime Jaquez Jr. got the start, and the Heat downed the visiting Hawks with 122 points on 43.6% shooting from long range. Tyler Herro scored from everywhere, and Duncan Robinson carried Miami toward the finish line.

Early, Herro erupted for 14 points, easily blowing by Trae Young and then Clint Capela as the help shot blocker for a deuce. He also torched drop coverage and swished jumpers at the top of the key and corner.

Yet the protection was feeble, allowing Dejounte Murray and Young to combine for seven of eight tries through 12 minutes, dusting point-of-attack defenders and hurting the Heat’s drop. Multiple looks were deployed to stop Young, but no one could stay in front of him when he dribbled to the hole.

In the second quarter, JJJ channeled Butler on a catch-and-shoot jumper, a post-spin past Bogdan Bogdanović, plus a turnaround hook and layup over Capela. Center Bam Adebayo supplied three paint scores and covered multiple Hawks on each possession.

Defensively, the Heat were dreadful, permitting the Hawks to log 50% from the field and 40% from deep through two periods. The latter could have been much worse because Miami was late to contest some corner shots that missed.

At intermission, the Heat led 62-60, with 26 points scored in the box, eight off turnovers, seven via second chances and two on the break. Herro and Jaquez were in charge of Miami with 31 combined points on 12 of 18 ventures.

Next, the turd quarter returned as the hosts converted a meager six shots and committed six turnovers. Here, Herro and Adebayo made 25% of their shots. The only success the Heat had on offense was slowing down the match by getting to the line for 12 freebies. On defense, it shut down the scorching Bogdanović, who had 20 points in the first half, to a single make in six bids by sending the low man at his drive and contesting his jumpers.

In the fourth, Adebayo failed four more attempts, and Young had a flurry late, but Robinson took over. He feasted, canning two trifectas, a lane floater, a putback on the break after JJJ’s miss and a cut through the middle for a layup. Herro added nine points on 60% shooting.

The Heat won 122-113, recovering 52.4% of rebounds and allowing only 40 points in the paint. Herro and Robinson combined their scorecards for 57 points on 19 of 32 made baskets. Notably, the halfcourt offense scored 118 points per 100 plays in the set, good enough for the 93rd percentile of all games this season. In the last two quarters, Miami contained Atlanta to prosperity on 38.5% of its field goal efforts.

Herro assisted with Bally Sports’ on-court interview, saying his “twin,” Robinson, opened up the offense with precision and movement. “He made it easy on me. [Robinson] is the man.”

At the press conference, Young referenced Butler’s absence. “It really doesn’t matter who is in for [the Heat]” because the players move off the ball.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves upstaged Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro’s return from two and five-week-long absences. In the second half, the Heat was shut down and couldn’t restrain Anthony Edwards from slicing the lane and spraying jumpers over defenders. It was a disappointing development for the hosts, who at one point led by 17 in the first half* against the West’s top team.

Yet, early, Herro converted four consecutive floaters attacking Gobert in drop coverage, showing zero signs of rust. Adebayo logged six points with his stroke and seizure of the lane. Jimmy Butler hoisted from deep and midrange, plus blew by Michael Conley on the baseline and powered past Nickeil Alexander-Walker into the square for a sweeping hook.

The Kaseya Center was electrified by the Heat’s 66 first-half points on 58.1% shooting. Jaime Jaquez Jr. only had three tries but made two with one bulldozing past Edwards for a bank shot. But the l precision had overshadowed poor ball protection as Miami lost it nine times in 24 minutes. Additionally, Minnesota scored freely against man and zone coverage.

At intermission, Miami was ahead by a dozen with 19 points scored off turnovers. Herro was its leading scorer with 17 on seven of nine shots, followed by Butler with 12 points and Adebayo’s 11.

In the third, the Timberwolves contested cleanly against Herro’s trays and stuck close to him for misses in the open court. The Heat were neutralized outside of the paint and held to 17 points, making 36.8% of attempts.

For Minnesota, Edwards pulled up on the left wing for a triple in Butler’s eye, accelerated past Herro in transition and hit a fader over Haywood Highsmith at the nail.

The fourth began with Miami up six, but then it had its worst defensive sequence of the evening, again late. Miami surrendered the corners twice, failed to stop dribble penetration, was beat on the break and caught on screens + mismatches. Also, coach Erik Spoelstra subbed Butler back in late, with under five minutes left in regulation. He had played the entire third frame, but in a close match, he was needed sooner.

With over a minute left and Miami down one, Karl-Anthony Towns soared over Butler on the baseline for Edwards’ missed triple, took a dribble, and flicked the rock to the uncovered Gobert for a lob.

Edwards took over in Butler’s house as Donovan Mitchell did on Dec. 8 when the Cavaliers stunned the Heat. Ant-Man supplied five of seven baskets and, in the crucible, canned a fadeaway over Josh Richardson in the post to give the ‘Wolves a three-point cushion with 25.6 seconds left.

Out of a sideline inbound, Adebayo fed Butler, who got loose to the right wing but was met by Anderson after the catch. With 22 seconds on the timer, Butler foolishly misfired into the hands of Gobert. The free throw formality followed, but Miami was done.

The Timberwolves won 112-108. Edwards finished with 32 points on 13 of 25 shots. Towns had 18 on his scorecard with eight boards.

For Miami, Herro logged 25 points on 55% field goal efficiency. Adebayo had 22 on 45% accuracy.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said postgame that Minnesota buckled down in the last two periods and that Rudy Gobert was a major deterrent for any actions run in the fourth quarter. As he continued, he mentioned how Edwards was unstoppable.

“[Edwards] was terrific,” Spoelstra said. “He did it in a lot of different ways, so it wasn’t as if we could send a second defender in every single situation…”

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What a surprise! The Heat are a sharp team when Jimmy Butler attacks from the jump.

In the first half, the Heat cruised to a 15-point lead over the Bulls behind Kevin Love’s five triples, Jimmy Butler’s assault of the rim, and Duncan Robinson setting up his teammates four times. Yet at the half, the hosts were ahead only by one as Chicago registered second opportunities + fastbreak scorers while Miami kept launching inefficiently in frame two.

Following Butler’s early storm, he was quiet in nearly six second-quarter minutes as Miami was getting lit up from deep because it abandoned the corners and right wing. Chicago’s Patrick Williams splashed three of four trifectas but, more notably, had a vicious jam over Jaime Jaquez Jr.

A promising start had fizzled into a laboring match due to a faltering offense, frustrating fans as the Heat closed the half on a 2-8 run in the last three minutes. At intermission, Miami led 58-57, with 10 points off turnovers. Its biggest weakness was protecting the defensive glass, permitting Chicago 43.5% of available offensive rebounds.

In the third quarter, the offense was powerless halfway through the period. Butler then recorded four of five field goals, curling around a pick for a jumper and attacking Cobi White twice and a fastbreak layup with the full-court assist by Love. White Hot’s next scoring leader of the quarter was Duncan Robinson, with triples behind a handoff at the top of the key and a pop after the screen on the right wing.

But for the Bulls, Williams continued his Kawhi Leonard impersonation. DeMar DeRozan maneuvered into the lane using high PNR and a double pick to pull up behind the line over JJJ. Yet, its spark plug, White, who was one out of seven from the court, wouldn’t activate until the last interval.

The Heat began the fourth quarter ahead by 11. Subsequently, it had its worst defensive sequence of the evening. White shredded the protections at the top from Highsmith and Butler, getting into the lane for layups and hoisting over openings for 18 points on six of eight attempts. DeRozan was outplaying Butler late, with an extra 11 on his scorecard, cutting through the zone, posting up on the block and driving past his Miami counterpart for a scoop layup plus the foul. The latter gave the Bulls its first lead of the quarter.

On the next possession, Kyle Lowry missed a left-wing 3-pointer, giving Miami its fourth-straight brick, but Caleb Martin bolted from the right side, elevating for a putback over Ayo Dosunmu and White. The Heat was now down 110-111.

Following Dosunmu’s missed layup over Lowry, Miami’s lead guard tried his runner through the middle. Nevertheless, Butler was there to clean up his miss, recapturing the lead with a putback. Twelve seconds later, White buried a tray on the left side when Butler over-helped in the center.

The Heat responded with Jaquez recovering Butler’s failed triple and cutting back through the lane for a dunk when the ball swung back to him. The visitors had a final answer: White speeding into the paint for a two-foot bank shot, claiming Chicago’s 116-114 lead.

Both teams went scoreless for the next minute. DeRozan, with possession, had his back turned at the left wing, then Butler swooped in, looting the ball and getting it to Lowry for a break lay-in. The Heat got the ball back for a last attempt after Nikola Vucevic failed to score past Love from the top to the cup.

After Butler picked up the defensive rebound, he dribbled up the court as the game clock ticked away by itself. First, DeRozan covered him, but he used a double screen to hunt White, broke him down, stepped back, and pulled up 20 feet away for the win against his old team as the horn buzzed through Kaseya Center.

The Heat won 118-116. Forty-four of Miami’s points came in the interior, 15 were on the break and 10 on second chances. Butler had 28 points on 50% shooting with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

He walked to the locker room, unconcerned with his doing the on-court postgame interview. Love, who crossed the 15K threshold in scoring during the night (15,006-regular season), handled it for him. He said it was a “beautiful” experience with both teams giving each other life and coming down to Butler late. “Best closer in the game. It was an unbelievable shot…those are the type of games we need to win, especially on our home floor.”

At the press conference, coach Erik Spoelstra said it was a no-brainer to not call a timeout on the last possession. “I think the entire area code felt fine with [Butler] making that decision… that was a heck of a play from [Butler].