Dominant rebounding and paint scoring propelled the Utah Jazz, overshadowing the Miami Heat's inconsistent performance and foul trouble.
The Miami Heat suffered an embarrassing 115-111 loss to the Utah Jazz after coming home from a mini two-game road trip: a 98-96 loss against the Boston Celtics on Friday and a 132-101 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. The lack of consistency continues for this team, who were without first-time All-Star guard Norman Powell (lower back tightness) and Pelle Larsson (right forearm strain).
Jazz; Clashing the glass: The Jazz went with a huge starting lineup of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic, all listed above 6-9. They combined for 29 of the team's 58 total rebounds. Although the Heat decided to go double-bigs with Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware, it wasn't enough to combat the Jazz's massive frontcourt.
Jazz; Dominating the paint: Despite the Jazz's inability to knock down shots from behind the arc, finishing the game on 27 percent three-point shooting, it was points in the paint that kept them close. They finished with 54 total compared to the Heat's 30. The Jazz's starting frontcourt combined for only 18 points in the paint.
Isaiah Collier, Ace Bailey, Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh combined for 32 points in the paint. Each of them played extended minutes in the fourth quarter.
Jazz; Starting front-court fourth quarter appearance: The Jazz entered the game with a 16-27 record, 13th in the Western Conference standings, sixth-worst in the league. It's no secret that the organization seeks a high lottery pick in the upcoming draft. However, more losses increase their chances. For a second consecutive game, Markkanen, Jackson Jr., and Nurkic did not play a second in the fourth quarter.
It shares more of a message about the current state of the NBA.
Heat; Bam Adebayo's overall performance: Adebayo struggled offensively throughout the first half, finishing with five points before halftime. Beforehand, he was stripped of the ball, but kept shaking his right hand. Adebayo played the rest of the game and finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in 37 minutes.
Heat; Kel'el Ware's foul trouble: Ware started for the first time since Jan. 6, but managed to log only 14 minutes after fouling out early in the fourth quarter. He finished with eight points on 50 percent shooting, six rebounds, and a steal. It's the first time in his early career that he fouls out of a game.
The Heat's record falls to 28-27, eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. On the same night, the Orlando Magic's record improves to 28-24 after a 118-99 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The gap is slowly falling away from the Heat, which puts them in a tough play-in situation.
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our RoundTable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
More Miami Heat News: