MIAMI _ This is where the 2018-19 Miami Heat stand: Required to fight to the finish against an opponent on a 17-game losing streak.
And unable to do even that.
Short-handed, shaky and seemingly shell-shocked by an inability to perform at home, the Heat collapsed at the finish, falling 124-121 Monday night to the Phoenix Suns at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Suns had entered without a victory since Jan. 12, the Heat without a home victory since then.
One streak ended in this one.
Not the one expected.
"We just have to keep on forging, persevere," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think we have a very resilient group.
"We'll be able to keep the guys' spirits up."
Center Hassan Whiteside led the Heat with 29 points and 11 rebounds, with forward Kelly Olynyk adding 28 points and 10 rebounds.
Not that any of that mattered.
"Nobody's going to feel sorry for themselves."
Guard Devin Booker led the Suns with 20 points.
From 13 up, the Heat caved in yet another loss to a team seeking nothing more that lottery riches.
Which soon well could be the Heat's position.
The one came despite dramatic late 3-pointers from Kelly Olynyk and Dion Waiters, whose attempt was part of a late go-ahead four-point play.
But an inexplicable late reach-in foul by Josh Richardson set up Booker for the winning free throws with 17.3 seconds to play, essentially gifting the lead back to the Suns.
The Suns scored 20 points in first 4:50 of the fourth quarter to move to a 104-96 lead with 7:10 to play.
The game went back and forth from there.
Ultimately, with 40.1 seconds left, Waiters converted a transition 3-pointer to tie it at 118. Fouled on the play, he converted the ensuing foul shot for a 119-118 lead.
The Suns then elected to play without a timeout, with center Deandre Ayton scoring easily inside for a 120-119 lead with 30.9 seconds to play.
Off a timeout, the Heat went to Dwyane Wade, who found Olynyk for a 3-pointer and the 121-120 Heat lead with 18.9 seconds to play.
But that's when Richardson fouled Booker on a Suns' inbounds pass with 17.3 seconds to play. The Heat then went to Wade, who was off with a jumper, effectively ending it.
