Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 123-122 loss to the Houston Rockets:

– At one point, as the Heat played on during the third period, the Heat, Magic, Hawks and 76ers all stood at 38-22.

– Showing how important every game will be the rest of the way in this playoff/play-in race.

– Which is why this one mattered so much for Erik Spoelstra’s team.

– And why there can be no time for self-pity when it comes to injury absences.

– With the Heat playing this one in the void of Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr.

– Because no one in May wants to again hear Pat Riley again say, “If only we were healthy.”

– And then, crushed at the buzzer.

– So, now, ninth place in the East.

– With a real chance of No. 10 within days.

– Considering the Spurs are up next, on Monday.

– Of Saturday night’s final play, a rebound from Kel’el Ware, and it’s over.

– Yes, boxing out matters.

– But even a hand on the ball and a different outcome.

– So, gut punch.

– Seven consecutive wins.

– Now followed by four consecutive losses.

– To his credit, Bam Adebayo has stepped up as a captain should in these moments.

– Dominant on the glass in this one.

– And carrying the scoring load even while playing in foul trouble.

– As Tyler Herro again showed that he’s perhaps better in Powell’s absence.

– Which is becoming an increasing reality.

– As shown during the recent seven-game winning streak, when Powell also was out.

– And so, with all the changes since they first paired in 2019-20, still Adebayo and Herro after all these years.

– Based on the two matchups, Heat-Rockets would make a heck of a playoff series.

– Alas, still looking like desperation for the Heat when it comes to the play-in.

– With Powell, Wiggins and Jaquez out due to injuries, the Heat opened with: Adebayo, Herro, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell and .Simone Fontecchio.

– That lineup is now 0-2.

– The Rockets opened with Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr and Alperen Şengün.

– Şengün had been questionable earlier in the day due to back tightness.

– Ware and Myron Gardner entered together first off the Heat bench.

– Dru Smith followed.

– With Kasparas Jakucionis making it nine deep for the Heat.

– And then a token appearance by Nikola Jovic.

– With Ware so off his game that it became Adebayo or bust in the middle.

– Anything from Ware and likely a W.

– Instead, double zeroes from the second-year big man.

– Herro’s first free throw was the 1,000th of his career.

– With his 11th point., Fontecchio reached 2,000 for his NBA  career.

– Ahead of the game, Herro questioned those who have questioned the Heat’s late-game offense.

– “We know where the ball’s going,” he said. “It’s like a new offensive, new year for us, everything’s new. But as we continue to get fully healthy, we’ll work through some things. But we know where the ball’s going.”

– As this one showed with Adebayo and Herro.

– After watching what Luka Doncic did against them Thursday, Mitchell said deciding on leading men matters.

– “I feel like a lot of teams when they know their main guys are going, it gives them confidence,” he said.

– They did.

– Until Amen Thompson offered an alternate reality with his game-winning putback just before the buzzer.