Herro returns, but Heat fall 122-94 in second loss to Timberwolves in four days

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MINNEAPOLIS — The transition offense never has been in question. When fed a steady diet of opposing turnovers, the Miami Heat stand as a formidable force.

The halfcourt offense against locked-in, quality opposition able to secure the defensive end?

Something closer to what Erik Spoelstra’s team endured in Tuesday night’s 122-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.

For the second time in four days, the Timberwolves kept the turnovers down and the defense up in pushing past the Heat, including a 10-point decision Saturday night at Kaseya Center.

So even with Tyler Herro back in the Heat mix for the first time since Dec. 9, a step back, on a night when the starting lineup outside of Norman Powell largely was held in check.

Powell closed with 21 points, with Herro scoring 17 after missing 13 games with a toe contusion.

And while Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware handled their business on the boards, with 11 rebounds apiece, the offensive output was muted, with Adebayo closing 3 of 1 from the field, Ware 3 of 10.

Against the 26 points of Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who shot 5 of 8 on 3-pointers, simply not enough.

Next up for the Heat is the second stop of this four-game trip, on Thursday night against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat led 29-27 after the first quarter, with the Timberwolves taking a 61-54 lead into halftime.

The Timberwolves then took off at the start of the third period, with a 10-0 run in a mere 1:54 pushing them to a 73-58 lead.

From there, Minnesota, with a barrage of 3-pointers, carried a 93-77 lead into the fourth, eventually pushing that edge early in the final period into the 20s.

Spoelstra eventually pulled the plug with his primary players with the Heat down 110-82 with 4:40 to play.

2. Off the bench: Sidelined since Dec. 9, having missed 13 games with the toe contusion, Herro returned in reserve, with Spoelstra remaining with his starting lineup of Ware, Adebayo, Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell.

It was Herro’s first game as a reserve since an April 4, 2024 Heat victory in Indiana. That appearance was the second consecutive game off the bench after returning from nearly two months off with a hyperextended knee. He then moved back into the starting lineup for the close of the regular season and playoffs.

Prior to Tuesday night, those had been Herro’s lone two reserve appearances since being named NBA Sixth Man of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

3. Herro time: Herro entered in place of Wiggins with 5:33 left in the opening period and the Heat up 19-14. He was part of a dual substitution, with Nikola Jovic entering at the same juncture, in place of Ware.

Herro effectively was cast in the sixth-man role of Jaime Jaquez Jr., who missed his second consecutive game with an ankle sprain, with Herro playing on a second unit that also featured Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson and Dru Smith, with Wiggins cycling back to play with those four.

Herro then converted his first shot in his return, a corner 3-pointer. With that conversion, Herro joined Duncan Robinson as the lone players with at least 1,000 with the Heat.

Herro closed 7 of 15 from the field in his 29 minutes, with nine rebounds, the Heat outscored by 25 during his action.

4. Still going: While his minutes largely were staggered from Herro’s, Powell continued as the face of the Heat offense, this time with 13 first-half points.

He closed 9 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers.

With the performance, Powell scored in double figures for a 35th consecutive game dating back to last season with the Clippers, tying the longest such streak of his career, set in 2021.

5. Off night: While NBC featured his defensive work, as he wore a live microphone during the national broadcast, it hardly was a night to remember for Mitchell, who opened 0 for 7 from the field.

Mitchell closed 2 of 11, missing all four of his 3-point attempts, although he did have nine assists, without a turnover.

While Mitchell continued to thrive as playmaker, a shift to the bench certainly is not out of the question as Herro continues his comeback.

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