Heat streak snapped with 125-115 loss to Timberwolves, with Jaquez sidelined by ankle sprain

5 days ago 2

MIAMI – The Minnesota Timberwolves showed the value of scoring in triplicate Saturday night at Kaseya Center, volume the shorthanded Miami Heat simply could not overcome.

So so much for the four-game winning streak, instead a 125-115 loss for Erik Spoelstra’s team, on a night the Heat began in the injury absence of Tyler Herro and Pelle Larsson, one that continued with the Heat then losing Jaime Jaquez Jr. for the night in the first half with an ankle sprain.

Against some opponents, there still might have been enough to persevere.

Against these Timberwolves on this night, not.

Not with Minnesota getting 33 points from Anthony Edwards, 29 from Naz Reid and 23 from Julius Randle.

With the Heat getting 21 points from Norman Powell and little else of offensive substance, the uphill fight eventually became too onerous.

Beyond Mitchell’s scoring, the Heat could only cobble 14 points apiece from Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic, and 12 apiece from Andrew Wiggins and Bam Adebayo.

The teams will meet again Tuesday in a rematch at Target Center, with the Heat back on the Kaseya Center court for a Sunday night game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat went down 10 early, before clawing back within 27-25 going into the second period. The Heat again went down 10 in the second period, before standing within 56-50 at halftime. From there, the Timberwolves went into the fourth quarter with a 90-86 lead.

That also was effectively when the Timberwolves said enough was enough, moving to a 109-90 lead with 7:28 to play.

It didn’t get any easier for the Heat then when Wiggins fouled out with 6:50 play.

From there, Spoelstra somewhat emptied his bench, inserting two-way player Myron Gardner with 4:31 remaining and the Heat down 115-97.

2. Jaquez sidelined: No sooner had Spoelstra addressed the value of Jaquez during his pregame comments, then the Heat sixth man was lost for the night in the second quarter with an ankle sprain.

When Jaquez initially went to the locker room in the second period, the Heat said a return was expected. Minutes later, he was ruled out for the game, after shooting 3 of 5 for six points with three rebounds in his 10 minutes.

Jaquez has missed just one game this season, when he sat out the Nov. 29 home loss to the Detroit Pistons, due to a groin strain.

3. Ailing, briefly: For all he has accomplished as the Heat’s leading scorer, Powell continues to deal with a series of nagging ailments.

This time it was leaving in the first quarter with what the Heat listed as leg soreness, later returning in the second period.

Powell missed three games early in the season with a groin strain, one three weeks later with another groin strain, and then one in early December with an ankle sprain.

Saturday, though, marked his 13th consecutive appearance, solid upon his return, stepping back up with his offense after returning. He closed 6 of 13 from the field.

4. Stepping up: On a rollercoaster with his shooting, Jovic followed up his 1-of-10 in Thursday night’s victory in Detroit going 4 of 8 in this one, firmly back in the rotation

Jovic again was utilized at center, as well as alongside big men Kel’el Ware and Adebayo. His versatility further came into play with Powell initially sidelined and then Jaquez lost for the night.

He added four assists and three rebounds.

5. And another one: The game was the first of a home back-to-back set, concluding Sunday against the Pelicans, marking the seventh of the Heat’s 15 back-to-backs this season, with the Heat 4-2 in the second games of such pairings.

Additionally, it is the second and final instance with home games on consecutive days this season, with the Heat having swept the previous such set on Nov. 7-8, against the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers.

The Heat have played home games on consecutive days 43 previous times in the franchise’s 38 seasons. They entered Saturday having won both 14 times, splitting the pair 19 times and dropping both on 10 occasions.

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