MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 126-108 victory over the Charlotte Hornets:

– Is there a rebounder in the house?

– No, this wasn’t as bad as Wednesday night in Denver.

– And, yes, all those early Heat makes meant no rebounds.

– But Kel’el Ware isn’t it.

– Boxing out practically foreign to the Heat’s domestic 7-footer.

– And you can play Nikola Jovic all you might need at center.

– But he isn’t a center.

–  So no Bam, then bust?

– Without Adebayo, it seemed that way Friday night, if not on the scoreboard, then certainly on the boards.

– The Heat might have length in Ware and Jovic.

– But they also have a duo in those two who are too easily pushed around.

– So Plan B without Adebayo and his toe sprain?

– Seemingly hoping the deficit on the boards can be managed.

– Talk gang rebounding all you want.

– But sometimes you simply need someone to stand tall.

– Or someones.

– So this time, a 57-37 rebounding deficit.

– Including a 19-6 deficit on the offensive glass.

– Ware with six rebounds, Jovic with four.

– A sum total that would be preferred from each.

– Against the Nuggets the boards left the Heat with no chance.

– Against the Hornets, a chance.

– Simply because they are the Hornets.

– But keep in mind that the Cavaliers loom twice next week.

– The big and bigger Cavaliers.

– Pelle Larsson, who had been questionable earlier in the day due to illness, was available and in the starting lineup.

– With Adebayo unavailable, Ware, as expected, opened in his place.

– Rounding out the starting lineup were Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell.

– Adebayo was in a walking boot.

– The Hornets also were shorthanded, with LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton ruled out 90 minutes before the game.

– And with Brandon Miller already out.

– That had Charlotte opening with the eclectic lineup of Tre Mann, Sion James, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Ryan Kalkbrenner.

– The Heat then opened 5 for 5, including 3 of 3 on 3-pointers, forcing a Hornets timeout 2:12 into the game.

– The Heat then converted their next shot, a 3-pointer, to move to 6 of 6 and 4 of 4.

– The Heat’s first miss was a Ware 3-point attempt with 8:44 to play in the opening period.

– On the next possession, Powell converted a four-point play, with the Heat retaining possession with the foul against Powell ruled flagrant upon review.

– From there, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jovic entered together first off the Heat bench.

– Dru Smith followed.

– With Simone Fontecchio making it nine deep.

– Along the way, Jovic reached 1,000 career points.

– And then the offense mostly stopped.

– Leaving this version of the Heat, the one without Adebayo, as somewhat 3-pointer or bust.

– So now on to Saturday night and the Trail Blazers.

– Prior to this Friday-Saturday home set against the Hornets and Blazers, the Heat had played home games on consecutive days 42 previous times in franchise history, winning both 13 times, splitting the pair 19 times and dropping both on 10 occasions.