Cold snap hits 5 games
Clippers overcome their adversity, Heat don’t in 109-105 loss
This was not another case of woe is we.
It couldn’t be, not with the Los Angeles Clippers missing more high-end talent than Erik Spoelstra’s chronically shorthanded team.
So even with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George sidelined by pandemic protocols, the Clippers fought back from an early 18-point deficit and then loaded up on 3-pointers to push past the Miami Heat 109-105 Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
So make it five consecutive Heat losses and a 6-12 record, with an 0-2 start to this six-game homestand.
The Heat were down seven players, forced to go without Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Avery Bradley, Andre Iguodala, Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard and Chris Silva.
They did, however, have Tyler Herro back after a seven-game absence due to neck spasms.
No matter, not as they continue to look like a team that has run out of bodies and gas six weeks into the season.
“We do have to acknowledge there are a lot of moving parts. It makes it unique,” Spoelstra said. “But you can’t make an excuse for it. You just have to continue to grind, to compete, to get better.”
In addition to being without Leonard and George, the Clippers also were without Patrick Beverley due to a knee issue.
The Heat got 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists from center Bam Adebayo, as well as 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists from Herro, who played with athletic tape on the
back of his neck. There also were 18 Heat points from Gabe Vincent.
“We have lapses where we look good and at other time we don’t look like ourselves,” Herro said.
Nicolas Batum led the Clippers with 18 points, with Lou Williams adding 17.
“We’re trying to figure it out,” Adebayo said. “We’re down bodies. And as you can see, we play as hard as we can.”
Five Degrees of Heat from Thursday’s game:
1. Odd finish: After falling behind by 19, the Heat closed within 106-100 with 45.6 seconds to play on an Adebayo three-point play.
Later, after the Clippers were called for an excessive timeout with 27.5 seconds to play, a Herro free throw drew the Heat within 108-103, with the ruling giving them possession.
An Adebayo dunk then got the Heat within 108-105 with 21.8 seconds left.
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson followed by making one of two free throws to make it 109-105 with 20.1 seconds to go.
But that’s where the scoring ended, with Spoelstra trying to call a timeout during a late scramble, but unable to be heard while wearing his mask.
“That’s those tough situations,” Spoelstra said.
“I’ve been scolded before for running over halfcourt, calling timeout. Nobody was listening. I’ve got the God-dang mask on. It’s happened twice. I’m not going to continue to make this mistake. My body is going to be out there.”
2. Three for all: The Clippers opened 1 of 9 on 3-pointers, and then went 14 of 25 to push to an 88-69 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Included in that volley were four third-quarter 3-pointers from Batum, his high for a quarter over his 13-season career.
Batum’s shooting sparked a 32-9 run by the Clippers to the end of the third period.
The Clippers converted nine third-quarter 3-pointers, tying a franchise record for a period.
“Our group has a great spirit, a big-time sense of urgency,” Spoelstra said. “It’s not a matter of that. It’s a matter of finding a way to be consistent.”
3. One more: The Heat opened with the 13th lineup in their 18 games, this time with Herro and Kendrick Nunn opening in the backcourt.
Nunn took the role of point guard in that alignment, but was forced to the bench with two early fouls.
The first five was rounded out by Adebayo, Duncan
Robinson and Kelly Olynyk.
The only available Heat player of the 10 available who did not see action was Udonis Haslem.
“I’m going to nudge them to keep staying positive,” Adebayo said.
4. Two-way value: Vincent and Max Strus gave the Heat quality bang for their two-way buck, with the two-way players a combined 5 of 8 on 3-pointers in the first half. Vincent also was fouled on a 3-point attempt, converting all three free throws.
The two combined for 22 of the Heat’s 50 firsthalf points, Vincent with 13, Strus with nine. Strus closed with 12 points.
“We have great confidence in those guys,” Spoelstra said. “They put in so much time behind the scenes. They’re prepared. They’re ready to produce. We don’t hesitate. We don’t look at it if they’re a two-way.”
5. Fans return: There was limited and scattered socially distanced seating with season-ticket holders allowed in attendance for the first time this season. That included plexiglass barriers separating close-in fans from the court alongside the south end of the court.
“I mean, it just felt good to have Heat Nation in there,” Adebayo said. “Heat Nation, we’re going to figure this out.”
The Heat added several entertainment elements, although such appearances on the court were precluded by testing protocols. The national anthem was performed from the stands, with the Heat Dancers performing on the outdoor concourse.
Olynyk greeted the crowd pregame from center court, telling fans to “stay safe.”
There was plenty of piped-in crowd noise, even with the limited crowd of fewer than 2,000.