Heat still searching for shining moment

WASHINGTON — On the face of it, a challenging closing schedule is the last thing the Miami Heat need at the moment, as they pursue a playoff spot beyond the treachery of the play-in round.

And yet, an argument could be made that it is exactly what Erik Spoelstra’s team needs, the opportunity to make a statement before the time of year when confidence can conquer all.

For all the Heat have done (or not done) in reaching this point, painfully missing from their

2023-24 resume are quality wins, the types of victories a team can reflect upon with the confidence that if they play that way again the possibilities are real.

For a team coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, the record carried into these final two weeks of the regular season is somewhat upside down, 23-9 against teams with losing records, but only 17-23 against teams at .500 or better — the latter as in the type of competition faced in the postseason.

Of course, there also is the perspective that we have yet to witness anything sustained by the Heat’s core, considering Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have played in the same game just 21 times over these 73 games.

Still is there a morsel that can be grasped, an ah-ha moment that provides clarity of what could be or at least how last season’s playoff run can be replicated?

It is an exercise as challenging as this Heat season itself.

In searching for the Heat’s

10 best wins, there is little of substance from which to grab hold, particularly discounting several of the victories when the Heat caught opponents who were playing on the second nights of back-to-back sets or severely depleted.

Heat 108, Lakers 107:

At the time on Nov. 6, this seemed like a breakout moment at Kaseya Center, and in many ways showed the best of the Heat, surviving a 30-point performance from LeBron James by getting 28 points from Butler and 22 apiece from Adebayo and Herro. But the reality also was that the Heat

almost blew a 10-point lead in the final 4:15, winning only when Cam Reddish was off on an open jumper just before the buzzer.

Heat 108, Grizzlies 102: Yes, the Grizzlies were without suspended Ja Morant for this Nov. 8 game at FedExForum, but still had Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart, among others. This was the game Herro was lost early with an ankle sprain that would sidelined him the next 18 games. It basically was a refresher in learning to win without Herro, which again appears germane.

Heat 118, Bulls 100: This Nov. 20 victory at the United Center was a needed bounceback after blowing a 21-point lead two nights earlier on the Bulls’ court. It also showed what the Heat can be when supporting players such as Duncan Robinson (22 points) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (19) are on their games.

Heat 129, Cavaliers 96: Yes, this Nov. 22 victory at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse came with Cleveland playing on the second night of a back-toback. But with quality road wins limited this season for the Heat, the dominance on a night Adebayo was out and Butler was 3 of 12 from the field demonstrated how all still could be right in the Heat’s world, as it was in last year’s postseason, when the 3-point game is on (20 of 35).

Heat 142, Pacers 132: This Nov. 30 victory at Kaseya Center was a case study of the inconsistency of this season’s Heat, finding a way to win on a night Tyrese Haliburton scored 44 for the Pacers. Then, with Haliburton out two nights later, the Heat managed to lose 144-129 to the visiting Pacers. Because of that loss, it now comes down to an all-or-nothing showdown next Sunday in Indiana for the critical season tiebreaker.

Heat 119, 76ers 113: Yes, the

76ers were without sidelined Joel Embiid for this Christmas night showcase. But the performance showed the Heat could be up to such national-spotlight moments, another rare display of the possibilities when whole, with Butler scoring 31, Adebayo

26 and Herro 22, all while smothering Tyrese Maxey to

4-of-20 shooting.

Heat 115, Kings 106: The Jan. 31 victory at Kaseya Center feels more meaningful than the Feb. 26 win in Sacramento that closed out the two-game season series because Butler was suspended in the latter meeting. In the home win, the Heat not only had Butler, Adebayo and Herro all contributing, but also Terry Rozier with 10 assists.

Heat 121, Magic 95: The Feb. 6 victory at Kaseya Center not only won the season series 3-1, but came with both teams largely whole, and arguably with the Heat utilizing not only what could stand as their playoff lineup (Adebayo, Butler, Herro, Terry Rozier, Caleb Martin), but what also could be their playoff bench rotation (Jaquez, Love, Robinson).

Heat 123, Bucks 97: Yes, the Bucks were playing on the second night of a back-to-back in this Feb. 13 game at Fiserv Forum, but the dominance was thorough against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard (albeit with Khris Middleton out), in case of yet another playoff rematch. It was a welcomed statement, even with Butler out.

Needing at least one more:

The confidence still needs to be boosted, with ample remaining opportunity. From a tiebreaker perspective, no games are more important than at home Thursday against the 76ers and then on the road three days later against the Pacers. But home wins Tuesday over the Knicks or April 10 against the Mavericks also could create tangible boosted belief

. . . and create that one shining 2023-24 moment that still feels lacking.