Overview
- Miami fell 129-116 to the Celtics on Friday, getting buried by 10 Boston three-pointers in the fourth quarter after carrying a small lead earlier.
- Adebayo said, “I’ve got to be better. I’m letting my team down,” after posting 16 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat.
- One night earlier, the Heat snapped a five-game slide by beating the Nets 106-95 behind Norman Powell’s 24 points and a half-court buzzer beater, holding Brooklyn under 100 with improved defense.
- Kel’el Ware delivered 22 points, 12 boards and four blocks to close out the Nets win, then hit a career-high six threes and scored 24 in Boston as Erik Spoelstra praised his growth; he and Adebayo also combined for a rare rebounds-and-blocks feat vs. Brooklyn.
- Injuries thinned the rotation to 10 players with Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic sidelined, opening a first NBA start for rookie Kasparas Jakucionis, who produced 17 points and five offensive rebounds.