The Miami Heat kicked off one of their longest road trips of the season with a good start in Phoenix. It didn’t end well, however, and now Miami moves on to Denver on Friday night for the second leg of their six-game trek.
The Heat led the Suns by 15 in the third quarter on Wednesday night but eventually lost, 115-112. It was their second straight loss and third in the last four games, a frustrating stretch that might lead to lineup tweaks.
Miami’s starters have been outscored by 16.6 points per 100 possessions, according to the Miami Herald, and in Wednesday’s second half, coach Erik Spoelstra played Haywood Highsmith with the starters instead of Nikola Jovic.
Highsmith scored 19 points and defended Kevin Durant, allowing Bam Adebayo to be on Jusuf Nurkic. Highsmith may continue to get minutes with the starters after not playing in two of the first six games.
“I’m, in a sense, used to this,” Highsmith said after the loss in Phoenix. “Some games, I might not be in the rotation or I might be in the rotation. I’m always going to be ready no matter what.”
Jovic is a bigger and a more gifted scorer but he has struggled from deep so far this year, hitting just 30.8 percent from behind the arc. His preference is to stay in the starting lineup.
“I really hope so because I really think I’m trying to help the first unit,” Jovic said. “But you never know. It is not an easy job. … I really hope I’m back. If I’m not, there will be more chances. Last year was the same type of thing, so I know I’ll be back.”
The need to start a big lineup against Denver is not as vital with power forward Aaron Gordon out multiple weeks with a right calf strain. Jamal Murray hasn’t played the last three games while in concussion protocol and he is questionable for Friday.
The Nuggets have won three in a row and five of their last six as the bench has become more of a factor. But with two starters out, the rotation has changed. On Wednesday night, Peyton Watson started at power forward and came up with a game-saving block on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to preserve a two-point win over Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook, who signed in the offseason to lead the reserves, has been starting in place of Murray. He has scored 21 and 29 points the last two games and looks more comfortable in Denver’s system after eight games.
He also had a block against Toronto on Monday that sealed the win.
“I have always told coach (Michael Malone) since day one, regardless of what happens I’m always laying it on the line,” Westbrook said. “I always compete at the highest level and did everything to get an opportunity to get that. I am grateful for the opportunity and every time I step on the floor I will compete to the highest level.”
