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 Heat Secure Win Against Pelicans, Tyler Herro Shines
Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) dunks against against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Kaseya Center. | Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
The Heat took care of business on Wednesday, beating the struggling New Orleans Pelicans. Jimmy Butler returned, but it was Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo who stole the show.
Main points:
• Tyler Herro went off for 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including 21 in the second half
• Bam Adebayo closed out the game with clutch buckets in the final minutes
• The Heat were without Terry Rozier but still got the job done
• Miami moves up to 6th in the East and has won 4 of their last 5 games
Look, this wasn’t exactly a statement win against a powerhouse team. The Pelicans are banged up and struggling. But you gotta beat the teams you’re supposed to beat, and the Heat did just that.
Herro and Bam stepped up big time. This is why Miami is paying these guys the big bucks. When Butler isn’t at 100%, they need their young stars to carry the load. And boy, did they deliver.
The Heat’s offense was humming, especially that dribble handoff game between Bam and the shooters. It was like watching the Orlando “bubble” Heat all over again, but even better now that Herro and Duncan Robinson can share the floor.
Speaking of Duncan, he was on fire too. The spacing those two provide is just ridiculous. When Herro and Duncan are both hitting shots, good luck stopping this offense.
Butler clearly wasn’t himself in his first game back. He looked sluggish out there and didn’t even play in the fourth quarter. Spo said they’re managing his minutes, but it’s something to keep an eye on. It’s also hard to say - and only Jimmy knows for certain - whether it was due to a lack of conditioning after a 13-day layoff or if he just wasn’t willing to be aggressive. It’s too soon to tell if Jimmy has checked out for the season and doesn’t want to play here, given that he was recovering from a serious illness. He’ll have a chance to have a bounce-back game on Thursday, when the Heat host the Indiana Pacers.
The young guys stepped up big time. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, and Kel’el Ware all made solid contributions. It’s great to see the Heat getting production from their first-round picks for once.
Bottom line: The Heat are trending in the right direction. They’re winning games they should win and getting contributions up and down the roster. If they can keep this up and get Jimmy back to form, watch out Eastern Conference.
The Orlando Magic are giving a one-fingered salute to the universe
Dec 26, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) dunks during the second half against the Miami Heat at Kia Center. | Mike Watters/Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic will never stop.
Injuries have piled up like rush hour traffic near the Disney parks. Orlando’s three best offensive players — Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Mo Wagner — are all out, the first two with rare torn oblique injuries and the latter for the season with a torn ACL. They should be dead and buried, with the funeral service concluded long ago.
Instead, the Magic keep raging, sticking out their middle fingers to the basketball gods who seem determined to throw every obstacle imaginable in their path. They’re 3-3 in the six games since the elder Wagner’s injury (including the win in which he went down in the first quarter), pairing a defense that gets more ferocious after each blow with an offense that has cobbled together just enough points to keep things interesting.
Jalen Suggs has become the de facto number-one option, a role he is ill-suited for. Suggs is shooting 41% from the field and 31% from deep, but you’d never know fromthe 37% usage (a monstrous figure) he’s posted in the last six games. The Magic’s offense looks best when someone else can help him out. Rookie Tristan da Silva has been the unlikely second banana many nights — he’s had five games in his last eight of at least 15 points after only notching one such performance in his first 23. Consistency, unfortunately, is hard to find; da Silva also had two games in his last three where he scored exactly zero points.
But there are still plenty of reasons for concern.
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Rumor Jimmy Butler’s future with the Heat remains uncertain amidst ongoing trade rumors. His recent comments have fueled speculation. His intentions are still unclear. (CBS Sports)
Preview The Heat play host to the Pacers tonight at 7:30 PM ET. Read the preview. (NBA)
Fantasy Basketball Implications of Jaden Ivey’s Injury
Jan 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) grabs his leg as he falls to the court after being injured against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel/Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The start of 2025 in the NBA has been nothing short of chaotic, with injuries taking centre stage. Jaden Ivey’s injury is particularly concerning, as it appears to be quite serious. The Detroit Pistons guard was having a strong game with 22 points and five three-pointers before the unfortunate incident. The severity of the injury suggests that Ivey might be sidelined for the remainder of the season, which is a significant blow to the Pistons and fantasy managers alike.
Fantasy Implications of Ivey’s Injury
With Ivey potentially out for the season, the Pistons will need to adjust their lineup. Ausar Thompson is likely to see an increase in minutes and responsibilities. Thompson’s ability to contribute across various categories makes him a valuable pickup in fantasy leagues. While his shooting may be inconsistent, his defensive stats and hustle play could provide a much-needed boost to fantasy rosters.
Malik Beasley might also see an uptick in playing time, although his recent performances have been less than stellar. Beasley is primarily a points and threes contributor, and his role could expand in Ivey’s absence. For those in deeper leagues, Marcus Sasser could become a viable option, especially if Cade Cunningham faces any setbacks.
Click the button below to see who’s rising and falling on the Bulls and Wizards.
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How Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo Fueled Miami’s Win Over Pelicans
Tyler Herro scored 32 points and Bam Adebayo took over in the final two minutes to lead the Miami Heat to a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Wes Goldberg and David Ramil react to Miami’s fourth win in fives games, Herro’s and Jimmy Butler not playing in the fourth quarter.
Jimmy Butler to Rejoin Miami Heat & De’Aaron Fox Watch Begins Jimmy Butler is expected to rejoin the Miami Heat after being away from the team for 10 days. What do the Heat need from him? Wes Goldberg and David Ramil talk about what they expect from Butler upon his return. Then they look at some minor moves the Heat can make ahead of the NBA trade deadline and ask if De’Aaron Fox is the next whale worth watching.
Game-Ending Brawl Shows Miami Heat Culture Is Alive and Well After a wild ending that saw Nikola Jovic hit a dagger 3-pointer and a bench-clearing brawl breakout in the final seconds, the Miami Heat beat the Houston Rockets as Tyler Herro continues to make his All-Star case. Wes Goldberg and David Ramil react to the win, the fight, Jovic’s spark and ask if Herro should be an All-Star lock.
