David Ramiland Wes Goldberg here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Heat podcast, with your daily Locked On Heat newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Heat and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Miami Ends Losing Streak With Nikola Jovic Game-Winner
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) (middle) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.|Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
In the latest episode of Locked On Heat, the hosts dive into Miami’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Game-Winning Play: The Heat beat the Wolves, 95-94, after Nikola Jovic drove to the rim, and drew a foul to put Miami up by one. It was a well-designed play by head coach Erik Spoelstra, who chose to have Jovic take the game-winning shot instead of leading scorer Tyler Herro. Jovic finished the night with 15 points including the clutch basket.
- Bam Adebayo’s Struggles: Adebayo continues to struggle, shooting just 3-of-11 from the floor for a total of 9 points. While Adebayo contributed in other ways, the same problems that have been there for the most of the season were evident in the game, including an unwillingness to shoot when open and being uncomfortable as the hub of the team’s offense.
- Tyler Herro’s Excellence: Herro led the team in scoring with 26 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter and was Miami’s most consistent scoring option. If there’s a beneficiary from the team’s overhauled offense, it’s Herro, who looks more and more comfortable with every game and is looking like an All-Star caliber player.
- Lineup Changes: Haywood Highsmith started in place of Jimmy Butler, out due to an injury in Friday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets. While his offense was mostly a nonfactor, his defense played a pivotal role in limiting Wolves superstar Anthony Edwards to just 22 points on 8-of-24 shooting. Highsmith had five steals in the win. Kevin Love, in his first action of the season, also started in place of Jovic, playing just 13 minutes but contributing some key rebounding, and value as a floor-spacing big.
- Kel’el Ware’s Performance: Rookie Ware got more playing time as Adebayo’s backup, showing some promise defensively, finishing the night with 3 blocks. While Love’s role as a starter doesn’t seem quite cemented, it’s possible that Spoelstra will continue to give the rookie more playing time as a shot-blocker and versatile scorer.
- Salvaging Road Trip: After two tough losses to start this 6-game road trip, the win in Minnesota was crucial to help provide some positivity and a potential building block to string some needed wins together. Coach Spoelstra deserves some credit for being willing to change the lineups and rotations, but also continues to give some players far too much playing time despite their inability to contribute in any meaningful way.
Can the Heat build off this win to close out the road trip on a positive note? And should Erik Spoelstra continue to lean into the team’s younger players in search of answers? For answers to these questions and more, make sure to subscribe to and listen to the latest episodes of Locked on Heat.
37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists. The first NBA player to reach these numbers in a game, and Nikola Jokic did it on a Sunday night in Denver, snowy pockets of flurries settling over the city. I wish I’d been collecting these stat lines all along, or had thought to make a note on the calendar when they happened. I’d like to see if there’s a pattern, though I’ve got a hunch that the dates would come to mean less than what the volume of them proves: in Jokic’s hands, the unprecedented becomes routine.
It starts with his skill, we know this. But let’s zero in on how he carries himself around the floor, how he moves. Jokic lopes, jogs, shuffles, occasionally bops, tends to move laterally more than he does in a direct line. It all serves to create an illusion that he’s slow and behind the pace. It’s why so many have a difficult time categorizing what it is he’s doing — he doesn’t work the way a basketball player does, tends to be the refrain. It’s because he looks, most of the time, relaxed
He can also appear pressed, like there’s someplace else he’d rather be. This is not the kind of approach we like to see from our stars. If they don’t look dialled in, if it doesn’t look strenuous at least some of the time, we tend to distrust their effort and skill. But Jokic’s arduousness is some of my favourite in the league, because it presents at our expense. And indeed, it must be exhausting to prove nearly every night that you can manipulate the game at every level.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis The Miami Heat’s road win against the Timberwolves showcased strong performances from key players and highlighted areas needing improvement for future games. (All U Can Heat)
Recap A thrilling game-winner by Nikola Jovic propelled the Miami Heat to a victory over the Timberwolves, showcasing their resilience. (Sports Illustrated)
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Basketball Managers
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Managers
Sunday’s NBA action took a concerning turn for the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chet Holmgren, their promising young centre, suffered a hip injury just five minutes into the game against the Golden State Warriors. This incident has left both the team and fantasy managers in a state of uncertainty, as Holmgren’s presence on the court has been pivotal.
The Impact of Holmgren’s Injury
Holmgren’s injury occurred during an attempt to contest a dunk, resulting in a hard fall that left him limping off the court. The Thunder have since reported it as a hip injury, but the full extent and severity remain unclear. Given Holmgren’s importance to the Thunder’s lineup, any absence could significantly impact their performance, especially considering their current lack of depth at the centre position.
Potential Replacements and Adjustments
In the wake of Holmgren’s injury, the Thunder may need to rely on a smaller lineup, as they did against the Warriors. This could mean increased minutes for players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, who might see more court time and opportunities to contribute. In deeper leagues, Ousmane Dieng could also be considered for a temporary boost, though none are likely to replicate Holmgren’s production. Fantasy managers might consider these short-term pickups, but it’s crucial to temper expectations, as the Thunder’s rotation could remain fluid.
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Luka Doncic Will Win MVP Unless... + Can Dereck Lively II Improve Enough? Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for an exciting NBA season, with Doncic being a top contender for the MVP award. As the Mavs look to make a strong impact, the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be pivotal in their quest for success.
How Klay Thompson Looked in his Mavs Preseason Debut Klay Thompson made his preseason debut for the Dallas Mavericks, showcasing his potential impact alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Mavs are gearing up for an exciting NBA season, with fans eager to see how Thompson’s skills will complement the team’s dynamic.
Is Dante Exum’s Injury the Mavs First BIG Test? + Luka Doncic’s MVP Chance The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for a challenging season as they face the absence of Dante Exum for three months. With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the Mavs, the team’s depth will be tested in the competitive NBA landscape.
