The Miami Heat had so much fun the other day after their win over the Washington Wizards. The locker room was lit as they teased Kel’el Ware for getting dunked on by Bam Adebayo. That fun was gone instantly as they were sent crashing back to earth by a team that has no business losing.
The Heat welcomed the Utah Jazz for the second night of a back-to-back. It must be fatigue as coach Erik Spoelstra’s squad stumbled in the second quarter by giving up a 15-point deficit after taking the first quarter six points.
They were still in the game and it looked more probable for them to win in the third quarter when Jazz coach Will Hardy decided to take out three of his main players. Big men Lauri Markkanen, new acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic all played half of the third quarter and never came back when taken out.
Many thought this is a tanking move as the Jazz, currently sitting at 13th spot in the Western Conference, are owed a Top 8 protected first round pick
The young guns like rookie Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, and Kyle Filipowski hold the forth and survived the Heat’s comeback powered by their 3-point shooting.
Bam Adebayo on the loss
It is a consensus that Heat should win that game as they are the more favored team. They did not have first-time All-Star Norman Powell and Tyler Herro but they are a playoff team anyways.
Adebayo did not use the back-to-back schedule as an excuse. He said they have to be consistent.
“Gotta figure out how to consistently win games. It doesn’t matter if it’s a back-to-back. Four games in five nights, it doesn’t matter,” he said.
“We’ve got to find a way to win even against teams trying to lose.”
The Heat will have a one day rest before visiting the New Orleans Pelicans, their last game before the All-Star break.
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