MINNEAPOLIS — The intent is to fight the good fight. But Erik Spoelstra said there also is a reality check about this season’s Miami Heat.

“We’re not a toe-to-toe team, per se,” the Heat’s coach said. “But we can get teams uncomfortable.”

Where it used to be about bullying and bruising, it now is about forcing turnovers, getting deflections, creating chaos on the defensive end.

Sunday’s 125-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans stood as an example, with the Heat forcing 26 turnovers and recording 19 steals, two off the team record.

“That is and has to be our identity,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat next moving on to Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center, for the start of a four-game trip. “We have to play with the recklessness and activity level that exceeds our opponent.

“It’s more about we look different when we’re flying around and making plays and making it tough for the opponent.”

Seven Heat players recorded multiple steals in Sunday’s victory, Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson and Dru Smith with three apiece, and Norman Powell, Davion Mitchell, Kasparas Jakucionis and Myron Gardner with two each.

Spoelstra said Mitchell’s defense activity, in particular, exceeded his steals count.

“Whenever it seemed like they had an advantage or something,” Spoelstra said of the Pelicans, “he was popping the ball loose and he just had a great knack for that.”

Larsson said the turnovers forced and steals created are the best fuel for the Heat offense.

“It’s no secret we want to play fast,” he said. “Fastest way to play is get a bunch of steals and transition opportunities. And we’ve got guys like Davion and other guys that can put pressure and create those turnovers.”

Injury report

Tyler Herro, who has missed the past 13 games due to a toe contusion and the recovery process, is listed as questionable for Tuesday, having last played on Dec. 9.

Listed as out for Tuesday are guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle) and Terry Rozier (not with team).

Back from G League assignment are Keshad Johnson, Vlad Goldin and Jahmir Young.

Listed as probable Jovic (groin).

Otherwise, on the injury report but listed as available are Bam Adebayo (back), Larsson (ankle), Powell (ankle) and Smith (elbow).

Heading out

The impending four-game trip begins a particularly challenging portion of the Heat schedule that over a seven-game span includes the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder twice, as well as Tuesday night’s nationally televised game against the Timberwolves (8 p.m., NBC and Peacock streaming, no FanDuel Sports Florida) and home tests against the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics.

“We want to do some damage on this road trip and pick up these wins, and it’s going to be big for us,”  Powell said of the trips that moves on from Minnesota for a Thursday game in Chicago, Saturday game in Indiana and Sunday game in Oklahoma City. “So I thought it was a good starting point for us to go on the road, feeling good about ourselves and how we need to play collectively on both sides of the ball.

“But yeah, this road trip is going to be really big for us to come out and get some wins.”

Gardner plays

After seeing token action through the first 34 games of the season, guard Myron Gardner, who is on a two-way contract, has seen rotation minutes in the past two.

While the Heat’s other two-way players, center Vlad Goldin and guard Jahmir Young, have been on assignment in the G League, Gardner’s energy has been embraced with the Heat playing shorthanded.

“I like Myron’s energy. He’s grown on me, he’s grown on the staff, the players in the locker room. I love his personality,” Spoelstra said, with Gardner playing 12:48 on Sunday. “It’s always alive in the locker room when he’s around, and it’s from a pure place. He’s a high-energy guy. He’s a likeable guy. He works his tail off. But you get to this point in the season, in January, too, you can need guys like that, they’re just so electric with their energy.

“Details and all that stuff, he’s getting better. You know, we’re hammering home all the discipline, the details. He’s coachable. I’ve been encouraged.”