MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 136-131 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers:

– The early debate, albeit in jest, was whether Jaime Jaquez Jr. should announce his candidacy for Most Improved Player of Sixth Man of the Year.

– The reality is that to this point, he might be the Heat’s MVP.

– This is beyond the numbers.

– Or even results in the standings.

– This is about the constant and consistent spark.

– Which was on display again Saturday.

– And needed after a miserable start by the starters.

– Questionable earlier in the day with the ankle sprain sustained late in Friday night’s victory over the Hornets, Jaquez was declared available 90 minutes before tipoff.

– He then played as if immune to pain.

– Again in attack mode.

– As he has been all season.

– No longer settling for 3-pointers just because open shots are offered.

– In one case bypassing such an attempt to instead drive for an acrobatic alley-oop pass to Kel’el Ware.

– As he again filled the box score.

– Particularly relentless on the glass.

– It’s as if he is a different player than last season.

– As well as a better player than when All-Rookie in 2023-24.

– This time closing with 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

– All needed.

– Seemingly all coming at just the right time.

– With Bam Adebayo again out due to the toe sprain sustained in Wednesday night’s loss in Denver, the Heat for the second consecutive night opened with a lineup of Ware, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell.

– That group opened a collective 1 of 15 from the field.

– Leading to an early 12-point deficit.

– First off the bench, entering together, were Jaquez and Nikola Jovic.

– Jaquez then scored the Heat’s first two baskets upon entering.

– Jaquez entered with 157 points off the bench this season, second in the NBA to only Portland’s Jerami Grant (162).

– Simone Fontecchio and Dru Smith then followed together.

– With Smith sparking a comeback into the Heat’s first lead on his driving floater early in the second period.

– Of Larsson continuing in the starting lineup, coach Erik Spoelstra noted the versatility.

– “That’s what he does, and I think that is a great skill that he has. He can fill in with any lineup,” Spoelstra said. “I just like the fact that he complements a lot of the lineups.”

– Powell’s streak of 31 consecutive free-throw conversions ended with his first attempt of the night.

– Mitchell reached 200 career steals during the game.

– The Heat entered No. 1 in the NBA in pace, the Blazers at No. 2.

– Of that factor, Spoelstra said going in, “We’re going to play our style. I’m pretty sure they’ll try to do their style, as well. So I think for the fans, it’ll be a fun game to watch.”

– And, yet, the Heat entered ranked No. 16 in offensive rating, the Trail Blazers No. 17.

– Meaning? “I don’t really look at that,” Spoelstra said. “We’re just trying to get to a style – The game closed the first of the Heat’s 15 back-to-back sets this season.

– Prior to this Friday-Saturday 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.

– The Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, won 137-118 Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons’ affiliate, with Heat camp prospect Trevor Keels converting 10 3-pointers.

– The Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov was among those in the crowd Saturday night at Kaseya Center.