MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 110-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors:
– Yes, what was left of the Warriors fought the good fight for longer than could have been expected.
– Far longer.
– So, yes, there was an NBA level of competition on Wednesday night at Kaseya Center.
– But in the personality-driven NBA, fans come for more.
– They come for Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green.
– Yes, rest matters.
– Yes, three games in four nights for an older roster is challenging.
– But the NBA knew Curry was unable to play in Miami last season, and still scheduled the Warriors for the second night of a back-to-back in Miami this time around.
– It is one thing with an Eastern Conference opponent, where there typically is a second time around to see an absent star.
– New York already visited twice, with the Kaseya Center able to see Jalen Brunson at least once.
– Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley sat last Wednesday at Kaseya Center for the Cavaliers, but at least were on display with the Cavaliers two nights earlier in the building.
– That’s not the case with a Western Conference opponent.
– Those teams visit only once.
– So in 2025-26 at Kaseya Center . . .
– No chance to marvel at Steph.
– No opportunity to jeer Jimmy.
– No time to taunt Draymond.
– That part of the NBA experience lost for another season.
– Increasingly, the NBA has become a television league, a streaming league.
– Seemingly aware of what was coming, ESPN pulled the plug on Heat-Warriors a week in advance.
– But it’s not as if fans at Kaseya Center had the opportunity to change the channel from what the Warriors offered Wednesday night.
– Again, the effort was laudable.
– But the NBA allowing such a star-less moment nonetheless lamentable.
– With Bam Adebayo back after a six-game absence, the Heat opened with a lineup of Adebayo, Pelle Larsson, Andrew Wiggins, Noman Powell and Davion Mitchell.
– Before the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “we’ll monitor it,” when it comes to Adebayo’s playing time as he returns.
– The hope was Adebayo picking up where he left off.
– “He just continues to evolve and improve every year, and that’s a credit to him being open minded, and then also his work ethic,” Spoelstra said.
– With Spoelstra of the belief the Heat’s rapid-movement system plays to Adebayo’s strengths.
– “This allows him to get to different parts of the menu, as a playmaker, as a scorer, as an attacker, as a facilitator, depending on what the possession calls for,” Spoelstra said.
– Nikola Jovic was an active scratch.
– Inactive were Tyler Herro (ankle), Terry Rozier (not with team), Kasparas Jakucionis (G League) and Myron Gardner (G League).
– With the Warriors giving the night off to Curry, Butler, Green, Al Horford and others, Golden State opened with the eclectic lineup of Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, Moses Moody, Gui Santos and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
– Jaime Jaquez Jr. again was first off the Heat bench.
– Kel’el Ware, Simone Fontecchio and Dru Smith followed together.
– This time without the emergency need for Keshad Johnson.
– Former Heat center Joel Anthony was among the faces in the crowd.
– Fontecchio made it six consecutive games with multiple 3-pointers, one game off the longest such streak of his career.