MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 144-117 victory over the Charlotte Hornets:

– There is playing at pace.

– And there is winning at pace.

– Plenty of NBA teams have pushed and passed the ball at a rapid rate.

– Few have achieved a significant level of success.

– So that makes this sample size nothing but a sample size.

– Perhaps with the impending western swing to offer more significant answers.

– Considering the competition includes the Spurs, Lakers, Clippers and Nuggets.

– Still, what we’ve witnessed this first week makes the Heat something they haven’t been in a while.

– Fun.

– When anyone and everyone can score.

– When it has been more push than shove.

– Yes, there will be adjustments along the way.

– But from the outset of this season, the Heat have shown they’ve been able to win without Tyler Herro.

– This time they also won without Norman Powell.

– The depth is real.

– With the play of Jaime Jaquez Jr. very real.

– Again, just as during his rookie season.

– So 3-1 to start when it seemed as if 1-3 might have been as good as it gets.

– With Powell out, the Heat opened with a lineup of Kel’el Ware, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson.

– That allowed coach Erik Spoelstra to keep his primary bench unit intact.

– As he is wont to do.

– The Heat said Powell aggravated his groin at Tuesday morning’s shootaround.

– For Ware it began a two-game run against the bulk of Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is listed at 256 pounds but appears decidedly bulk and then Thursday night’s challenge of 7 foot 5 Victor Wembanyama, when the Heat play at the Spurs on Thursday.

– Jaquez again was first off the Heat bench, entering for Adebayo, as the Adebayo/Ware staggering began.

– Jaquez immediately followed up with his first 3-pointer of the season.

– And then made his next attempt, as well.

– That plus the driving baskets?

– Impressive.

– Nikola Jovic, Dru Smith and Simone Fontecchio then followed together for nine deep.

– That had every available player on the Heat standard roster other than Keshad Johnson in action before the end of the opening period.

– Spoelstra saved Fontecchio a foul in the second period with a successful challenge on a blocked shot.

– The victory was the 900th of Spoelstra’s coaching career, counting regular season and postseason.