Miami Heat come up short vs. San Antonio Spurs, Wembanyama

MIAMI — Whole, and still not wholly good enough.

With a fully healthy roster for only the sixth time this season, the Miami Heat still were made soberingly aware Monday night of the deficit against the league’s elite.

So make it five consecutive losses for Erik Spoelstra’s team with the 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Kaseya Center.

Even with Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. back from the injury list, there still was not enough against Victor Wembanyama and a legitimate championship contender that now has won 21 of its past 23.

While the defense continued to lack when needed most, it’s not as if there otherwise would have been an answer for 7-foot-5 Spurs freak of nature Victor Wembanyama, who closed with 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots.

That challenge took a toll on Heat center Bam Adebayo, whose run of 20-point outings came to a close with 18 points.

Otherwise, for the Heat it was 21 points from Powell, 18 from Tyler Herro and simply not enough to draw from elsewhere on the roster.

“We’re going to have to figure it out because it’s not going to be easy,” Adebayo said. “We have to dig deep because we only got 10 games left.”

Wembanyama was supported by 19 points from Stephon Castle, as solid contributions from the Spurs’ other recent lottery riches.

“I mean you have all these opportunities when you’re tested in this league, collectively. And we’re being tested right now,” Spoelstra said. “We’re not the only team being tested. It feels uncomfortable, there’s no doubt about it.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Monday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Spurs led 38-31 after the first quarter, outscoring the Heat 10-0 in the period on second-chance points.

The Heat then went down 18 early in the second period, standing with that deficit at 76-58 at halftime.

From there, the deficit reached 30 in a third quarter that ended with the Spurs up 108-81.

That effectively left it as a fourth quarter of nothing by mop-up time, with both benches emptied.

Spoelstra was most disheartened by the defense.

“That’s the most disappointing thing right now,” he said. “And these are the moments of truth right now, where it needs to be there.”

2. All present: So make it a 3-3 record this season in games that all Heat players on standard contract (other than Terry Rozier, who is on NBA leave) were available.

With Powell, Wiggins and Jaquez back, Spoelstra opened with a lineup of Adebayo, Herro, Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell, now 3-3 with that lineup.

That had Powell playing off the bench for the third time in his past four appearances, his lone appearances as a reserve as a member of the Heat.

Powell exited more concerned about the losses than the role.

“When the going gets tough, we let go of the rope,” he said. “I think that’s what happens when we have losses like this.”

Wiggins closed with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, with Jaquez finishing with eight points.

Powell said the rhythm will have to be re-created on the fly.

“It’s going to take us being locked in the in-between days, (working on our stuff, finding that rhythm,” he said. “I think that’s been the biggest issue with guys in and out of the lineup, myself included, just trying to find a rhythm.”

Herro tried to put the best face on the situation.

“So we’ve got a good problem, it’s a good problem to have,” he said. “We’re healthy now, we just gotta get back on track.”

3. Boiling point: Spoelstra was called for his first technical foul of the season with 11:35 left in the second period and Heat down 38-31.

Spoelstra sprinted down the sideline after he and Powell believed Powell was fouled on the preceding possession, with referee Marc Davis then signaling the technical.

Spoelstra continued to express his dissatisfaction with Davis during the ensuing timeout, with Powell joining in that tempered discussion.

As a matter of perspective, Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff entered the week leading all coaches with 10 technical fouls, with 18 coaches with at least four and 27 head coaches with at least one.

The stress for the Heat is proving tangible.

“We don’t have any room for error,” Powell said, “with these last 10 games.”

4. Streak ends: Pulled late in the third period, Adebayo saw his career-best streak of 20-point games end at 11.

He closed 5 of 17 from the field, including 2 of 10 3-pointers, Still it was the sixth time in the past seven games he has coveted multiple 3-pointers.

Despite playing major minutes over the past week, Adebayo at one point in the first half turned to Spoelstra seemingly displeased with being subbed out.

“He and I were barking at each other,” Spoelstra said. “That’s why I love him.”

The reality is there wasn’t much in reserve in the middle, with it another struggle for Kel’el Ware.

‘We’re just burying ourselves in the hole if we don’t figure it out sooner than later,” Adebayo said of the overall struggles.

5. Wemby time: While the 3-point stroke wasn’t there on a night he shot 1 of 7 from beyond the arc, Wembanyama was 10 of 15 on his 2-points shots, adding four assists, needed for only 26 minutes.

For the Heat, though, it was about looking inward.

“No one knows who’s gonna come out on top, but we want that to be us,” Wiggins said, “and we’re gonna work towards it.”