<\/p>\n
Alie Skowronski<\/p>\n
askowronski@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
Five takeaways from the Miami Heat\u2019s 124-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets (15-46) on Tuesday night at Kaseya Center to improve to 2-0 during its three-game homestand. Next up for the Heat (33-29) is another matchup against the Nets in Miami on Thursday:<\/p>\n
The Heat took care of business against the struggling Nets, taking a step forward in its push to avoid the NBA\u2019s play-in tournament this season.<\/p>\n
The Heat dominated the rebuilding Nets, pulling ahead by as many as 16 points in the first half before entering halftime ahead by 15.<\/p>\n
Miami\u2019s lead grew to as large as 27 points in the second half.<\/p>\n
The Nets, which have now lost nine straight games, trailed by double digits for the entire second half.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the second half of the season,\u201d Heat center and captain Bam Adebayo said. \u201cWe need these wins. We can\u2019t have any more slip-ups. We\u2019ve had enough in the first half of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Heat was powered by its defense, limiting the Nets to just 38.4 percent shooting from the field and 6-of-32 (18.8 percent) shooting from three-point range. Miami also scored 20 points off 19 Brooklyn turnovers.<\/p>\n
Adebayo led the Heat with a game-high 23 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists, six steals and one block in 35 minutes. He also posted a team-best plus\/minus of plus 22 in Tuesday\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n
Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 27 minutes off the Heat\u2019s bench.<\/p>\n
Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) drives passed Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Saraf (77) and forward Ziaire Williams (1) during the first half of a game on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
The Nets\u2019 top scorer was inefficient, as Michael Porter Jr. finished with just nine points on 3-of-17 shooting from the field and 0-of-9 shooting from behind the arc.<\/p>\n
With the Orlando Magic also defeating the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, the eighth-place Heat remains percentage points behind the seventh-place Magic (32-28) in the Eastern Conference standings.<\/p>\n
But the Heat gained ground on the Philadelphia 76ers, which lost to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. The eighth-place Heat is now just one-half game behind the sixth-place 76ers (33-28) in the East standings.<\/p>\n
The NBA\u2019s play-in tournament features the seventh-through-10th-place teams competing for the final two playoff seeds in each conference. The Heat needs to finish among the East\u2019s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot without needing to take part in the play-in tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know we have a lot of competitors in our locker room, and I\u2019m banking on that bringing out a better version of ourselves,\u201d Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of the Heat\u2019s goal of avoiding the play-in tourney. \u201cWe have everything we need. We\u2019ve got a high-powered offense. We\u2019ve got a very good defense. It can be as good as anybody in the league defensively. But we need to put it together, particularly in the moments of truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adebayo was aggressive early on his way to a milestone night.<\/p>\n
Not only did Adebayo score eight of the Heat\u2019s first 13 points on Tuesday, but he finished the first quarter with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. It tied for his third-highest scoring first quarter and also tied for the second-most shots he has taken in an opening quarter this season.<\/p>\n
Adebayo finished Tuesday\u2019s win with 23 points on 24 field-goal attempts. It\u2019s tied for the second-most shots that Adebayo has taken in a game this season.<\/p>\n
In the process, Adebayo overtook Udonis Haslem as the Heat\u2019s all-time defensive rebounding leader with his fifth defensive rebound on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a testament to his consistency, and we love to see it,\u201d Spoelstra said when told Adebayo is now the Heat\u2019s all-time leader in defensive rebounds. \u201cThat\u2019s what records are there for, to be broken, especially when it\u2019s quality people that are breaking records. And Bam is a quality human being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adebayo is still 235 rebounds away from passing Haslem to become the Heat\u2019s all-time leading rebounder. But Adebayo will soon have that record, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on the way, man. He knows it,\u201d Adebayo said of Haslem. \u201cThat gap is getting closer and closer. But like I said, being part of this organization, the guys ahead of me, records are meant to be broken. But they want you to earn them. Obviously, I\u2019m earning it every game, and at some point it\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots over Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) during the first half of a game on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
The Heat again played centers Adebayo and Ke\u2019l\u2019el Ware together, and the results were again encouraging.<\/p>\n
For the second straight game, the Heat used the double-big look of Adebayo and Ware for extended minutes.<\/p>\n
After the Heat outscored the Houston Rockets by 21 points in the 16 minutes that Adebayo and Ware played together on Saturday, Adebayo and Ware again produced positive results on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Heat outscored the Nets by eight points in the 15 minutes that Adebayo and Ware played together.<\/p>\n
Prior to this two-game stretch, Adebayo and Ware logged just three minutes together over the previous four games.<\/p>\n
Ware closed Tuesday\u2019s win with a double-double stat line of 11 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high five steals in 29 minutes.<\/p>\n
Since Feb. 8, the Heat has outscored opponents by 97 points in the 73 minutes that Adebayo and Ware have played together.<\/p>\n
This is noteworthy, considering the Heat had been outscored by 7.5 points per 100 possessions in the 266 minutes that the 6-foot-9 Adebayo and 7-foot Ware played together this season prior to Feb. 8.<\/p>\n
Adebayo and Ware again opened Tuesday\u2019s game in separate units.<\/p>\n
With starting guard Norman Powell missing his second straight game because of a strained right groin, the Heat went with the starting lineup of Davion Mitchell, Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Andrew Wiggins and Adebayo for the second consecutive game.<\/p>\n
The Heat then used a bench rotation of Ware, Jaquez, Simone Fontecchio and Kasparas Jakucionis.<\/p>\n
The Heat was without Powell, Vlad Goldin (G League), Keshad Johnson (G League), Nikola Jovic (low back injury management), Trevor Keels (G League) and Terry Rozier (not with team) against the Nets.<\/p>\n
Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) boxes out Brooklyn Nets center Day’ron Sharpe (20) with Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the second half of a game on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
Herro looked comfortable in his second straight start for the sidelined Powell.<\/p>\n
After playing as a reserve in his first four games back from a rib issue, Herro has now started two consecutive games for the injured Powell.<\/p>\n
Herro was effective on Tuesday, totaling 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, 1-of-4 shooting on threes and 5-of-5 shooting from the foul line, three rebounds, two assists and one block in 27 minutes.<\/p>\n
This starting role is nothing new for Herro, who has been primarily used as a starter since the start of the 2022-23 season. In fact, even including the four recent games as a reserve, Herro has only played off the bench in seven games since the start of the 2022-23 season.<\/p>\n
Another encouraging thing about this stretch for Herro: After missing 45 of the Heat\u2019s first 56 games this season because of injuries, he has now played in six straight games.<\/p>\n
Herro has averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 13 of 35 (37.1 percent) from three-point range in those six games since returning from a rib injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s making all of this look a whole lot easier than it actually is,\u201d Spoelstra said of Herro. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t played extended time. This is just really a short period of time that he\u2019s been back. But I think each game it\u2019ll get better. I trust Tyler and his work. He puts in so much time. But he just adds so much to our offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Heat and Nets face off in Miami again on Thursday, and that\u2019s a good thing for the Heat.<\/p>\n
The Heat has been good against inferior opponents, improving to 22-8 this season against teams that entered Tuesday with a losing record.<\/p>\n
The Nets fall under that category, entering Tuesday with the league\u2019s third-worst record.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was pleased with the prep. I was pleased with the practice yesterday,\u201d Spoelstra said following Tuesday\u2019s victory. \u201cAnd pretty consistent effort and focus throughout the course of the game. It was a good response. Now we can take a little bit of time and gather ourselves and get ready for Thursday night, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
This two-game set against the Nets in Miami marks the fourth of six occurrences this that the Heat will face the same opponent in consecutive games this season. The Heat split its first two two-game sets of the season (vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 10 and 12 and at New York Knicks on Nov. 14 and vs. Knicks on Nov. 17), and then won two of three straight games against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 29, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 10:06 PM.<\/p>\n
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