MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 130-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers:

– The Cavaliers had the right to be cavalier.

– They have shown an ability to get to the top of the standings with their roster.

– As they did last season.

– The Heat have not.

– And that’s why no matter who played for Cleveland (or in this case did not), this was a big game for the Heat.

– Because every game, at any point of the season, against any roster combination, is a big game for a team trying to avoid a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in round.

– Can’t take anyone lightly.

– As coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame, “We’re not one of those teams that can overlook anybody. We haven’t proven anything yet.”

– With each of the last three years showing the slightest of margins between playoffs and play-in.

– Yes, the Heat were without Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

– But there could be times this season when they are down even more.

– Or when they will have to make their own lineup  decisions when it comes to back-to-back sets of their own.

– What the Heat needed Wednesday night was to seize the moment.

– After a 37-45 season, leave no gift unturned.

– Instead, a regrettable, lamentable loss.

– Too many turnovers.

– Too many fouls.

–  Seemingly too much indifference that it still isn’t easy.

– So, instead, a humbling, humbling moment.

– A bad loss.

– Very bad.

– Borderline unacceptable.

– With Adebayo missing a fourth consecutive game with his toe sprain, the Heat for the fourth consecutive game opened with Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell.

– Larsson’s nine starts now is one more than he had as a rookie last season.

– Inactive again for the Heat were Adebayo, Herro (ankle), Terry Rozier (not with team), Jahmir Young (G League) and Myron Gardner (G League).

– Amid resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, and with Darius Garland out, the Cavaliers opened with Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade, De’Andre Hunter, Lonzo Ball and Sam Merrill.

– Spoelstra downplayed the shorthanded opponent.

– “We’re trying to establish ourselves, establish our identity, find consistency in our game. It’s really not about the other team,” he said.

– It was Jaime Jaquez Jr. again as Heat sixth man.

– Immediately scoring on a one-on-three transition drive.

– With five points in his first two minutes.

– Nikola Jovic and Simone Fontecchio followed together next off the Heat bench.

– And then Dru Smith for the now-usual nine deep amid the absences of Adebayo and Herro.

– Beyond last season’s playoff sweep by the Cavaliers, the Heat entered having won four of five in the regular season from Cleveland.

– The next time the teams meet, it also will be in consecutive games, on March 25 and March 27 in Cleveland.

– Before the game, lifelong Dodgers fan Jaquez exchanged jerseys with World Series hero Miguel Rojas.