MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 106-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors:

– Tyler Herro was away.

– Or at least out of view.

– But the debate doesn’t go anywhere.

– On one hand, with Herro unavailable because of a return of his toe issue, Norman Powell again got to somewhat play as leading man.

– On the other, the offense in this one sure looked like it could have used some of Herro’s help.

– The bottom line: The Heat need to see more Herro.

– Because the Heat need to see more of how/if this works.

– The Heat waited nearly two months for Herro to get back from his September ankle surgery.

– Now, again, more waiting.

– Yes, still relatively early based on the length of the season.

– But who are the whole Heat?

–  As before Monday night, who knows?

– But this was bad.

– Very bad.

– Perhaps enough to slant the direction of the offense black in the direction of Herro.

– When he returns.

– Which all now realize can’t come soon enough.

– There was a bit of a pregame thunderbolt, with Herro late scratch due to the toe issue that had him out for two games before returning in last week’s NBA Cup loss in Orlando.

– With Pelle Larsson also out, that had Simone Fontecchio starting in place of Herro, along with Powell, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell.

– All of which still had Kel’el Ware coming off the bench.

– This time, though, there was at least some Adebayo and Ware together.

– The Raptors opened with a lineup of  Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Ochai Agbaji and Immanuel Quickley.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. was first off the Heat’s depleted bench.

– Nikola Jovic, Dru Smith and Ware then followed together.

– With Jovic then almost immediately sidelined by an elbow injury, replaced by Keshad Johnson.

– That left first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis as the lone available Heat player not to see action.

– Both teams were coming off five-day breaks, having last played a week ago Tuesday in NBA Cup quarterfinals.

– “Well, the whole league, basically, had some practice time. I think it was good for us,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We took advantage of it. By this point, we’re ready to play a game.”

– Among the reasons the Heat were able to land Mitchell at last season’s trading deadline was the Raptors’ decision to move forward with second-round pick Jamal Shead.

– “It was probably why we were able to get D-Mitch,” Spoelstra said. “They made a choice and we’re just grateful that we were able to acquire him. But they both have defensive tenacity commitment on that side of the floor and upside offensively.”

– Spoelstra again was asked pregame about Jovic having been removed from the rotation in two of the three previous games.

– “He’s been good the last three weeks,” Spoelstra said.  “He’s made some progress in focusing on what he can control — and that’s his work, that’s his approach, the consistency, everyday. Every player gets their opportunity at some point, and then you have to make the most of it, ideally, where you’ve improved, ideally, where you’re impacting the scoreboard.”

– Spoelstra added, “And I want you guys to have to make me make decisions. And that’s what I hope for Niko, that his play makes me have to play him more.”

– Mitchell’s fourth basket was the 1,000th of his career.