IN THE LANE

AWARDS SEASON: With media ballots going out in coming days, it appears award season will be relatively quiet for the Heat. About the only givens seemingly would be Bam Adebayo making first-team All-Defense for the first time, after second-team such nods the past four seasons, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. making first-team All-Rookie. As for those individual awards, Adebayo figures to be one of the three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year, where Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert appears the overwhelming favorite, with San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama drawing late attention, and Jaquez might be bumped out for a one of the three finalist spots for Rookie of the Year, with Wembanyama the presumptive favorite and Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren and Charlotte Hornets wing Brandon Miller potentially rounding out those three finalists. While the Heat’s Duncan Robinson has a potential case for Most Improved Player, it does not appear to be anywhere close to the cases for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Chicago Bulls guard Coby White or Thunder forward Jalen Williams.

SPEAKING OF: Speaking of postseason awards, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before Wednesday night’s game against the Heat that Luka Doncic seemingly is being penalized for award consideration because of how he makes the game look easy. Doncic then went out and scored 29 seemingly effortless points against the Heat in Dallas’ blowout win.“Game’s too simple, too easy. He makes it look too easy, unfortunately,” Kidd said. “That’s what happens with some of the greats, when you talk about MJ (Michael Jordan) and those guys. We take for granted their talent. He’s only 25, but he’s playing the game like no one else.” Kidd added, ” We’ve joked around that we might have to do the Larry Bird game and play left-handed. But he might make that look easy, too.”

ALL SMILES: If you’re thinking that was a million-dollar smile that Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving was wearing after Wednesday night’s victory over the Heat, you’re wrong. It was a $2 million smile. Not only did Irving earn a $1 million contract bonus for the Mavericks winning their 50th game, he also earned a $1 million bonus for appearing in at least 58 games this season.

BACK AT IT: Upon joining the Heat off the buyout market in March, veteran guard Patty Mills said he had two remaining immediate goals going forward: a deep playoff run with the Heat and success with the Australian National team at this summer’s Paris Olympics. Mills took another step toward the latter this past week, one of 22 players named finalists for Australia’s roster. Among other NBA players alongside the 35-year-old Heat veteran on the preliminary Australia roster are Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Jock Landale, Duop Reath and Matisse Thybulle, as well as former longtime NBA guard Matthew Dellavedova.

NUMBER

5-0 The New Orleans Pelicans’ record this season against the Sacramento Kings (because of an extra matchup due to the play-in tournament). The last NBA team to go 5-0 against an opponent in a regular-season? The 1995-96 Miami Heat, who in Pat Riley’s first season as coach went 5-0 against the New Jersey Nets. Expansion since has limited scheduled season series to a maximum of four games.