Bam’s lesson

Friday provided another lesson in Bam Adebayo‘s rookie schooling.

Again starting in place of sidelined Hassan Whiteside, Adebayo closed the first half in Oklahoma City without a point or rebound, compared to the 11 points and seven rebounds of Thunder center Steven Adams. While Adams went on to add 13 points and five rebounds in the second half, Adebayo then was more competitive, with seven rebounds, on what still turned into a scoreless night for firstround pick out of Kentucky.

“I think it took him a little bit to adjust,” Spoelstra said. “And that’s why we love Bam so much. As a young player, he’s never played against somebody like Steven Adams, of that size.

“He was prepared going into it, but Adams was getting the best of him, and then a lot of those 50-50 opportunities. It’s a great quality to have as a young player, to be able to adapt on the fly and then adjust and then find a different way to make an impact, and he did.”

Adebayo has been starting with Whiteside having missed the past seven games with what the team is now listing as a strained left hip flexor. Whiteside’s muscle was particularly missed against the Thunder. Whiteside is again listed as out for Sunday.

“We’re never going to use excuses about who we got, who’s ready to play, who’s healthy,” Dragic said. “We are going to go with that guy. What would happen if Hassan would play or somebody else, we don’t have control over that. Of course we would love to have him, but it is what it is.”