MIAMI — Life without Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler looked a lot Wednesday night like what could be expected of Miami Heat life without a pair of All-Stars.
And it made the Cleveland Cavaliers at times look invincible in their 111-85 victory at FTX Arena, the Heat’s most lopsided loss of the season.
With Adebayo on the verge of weekend thumb surgery that is expected to have him out an estimated six weeks, and with Butler missing his second consecutive game with a bruised tailbone that could have him out another two, the Heat learned that Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro might not be enough.
That certainly was the case against the revitalized Cavaliers, who snapped a string of 20 consecutive losses in Miami.
Also snapped was Duncan Robinson’s streak of 69 consecutive games with at least one 3-point conversion.
Herro led the Heat with 21 points, supported by an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double by fill-in starting center Dewayne Dedmon.
But from Lowry there only were seven points, and from Robinson, none.
The Heat were outrebounded 46-28, allowing .544 shooting from the field and 16 of 31 3-point accuracy from the Cavaliers.
Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday night’s game:
1. Still missing: At a time the Heat need more from Robinson they got even less than other games during this ever-increasing slump.
This time, Robinson was 0 for 7 from the field, 0 for 6 on 3-pointers through three periods, his night over at that stage.
Going into the fourth, seven Heat players had at least one 3-pointer, including Dedmon. None of them were Robinson.
2. More needed: Lowry was limited to two first-half points on 1-of-6 shooting, with just a single assist over his 17:10 in the first half.
His frustration boiled over when he was called for a technical foul while seated on the bench with 29 seconds left in the opening period.
Lowry’s second conversion from the field came on a 3-pointer with 6:33 left in the third quarter.
The Heat were outscored by 22 points with Lowry on the court.
3. Herro ball: Without Adebayo and Butler alongside, Herro found himself working harder for his opportunities, at 15 points at halftime on 6-of-14 shooting.
Herro, who had missed the previous two games due to soreness, was injected into the starting lineup in place of Butler, closing the first half with five assists and just one turnover.
From there, with Robinson and Lowry off, the Cavaliers were able to put additional focus on Herro.
4. Strus steps up: Max Strus again provided the outside threat that the Heat lacked from Robinson.
After the Heat shot 1 of 9 on 3-pointers in the opening period, Strus converted a pair at the start of the second quarter, with all 10 of his points in the first eight minutes of the second.
Included in Strus’ output was the type of reverse layup that is a contrast to Robinson’s game inside the arc.
Strus would have had 13 second-quarter points, but after the halftime buzzer, it was announced that one of Strus’ 3-pointers was nullified upon video review became it came after he had stepped out of bounds.
5. Big plans: With Adebayo out, Spoelstra spoke pregame of KZ Okpala or Omer Yurtseven getting opportunities in the power rotation.
Instead, Dedmon, who had been listed as questionable with a bruised right knee, started. Then, when he went out for the first time, 6-foot-5 power forward P.J. Tucker moved to center.
The Heat opened with a tight reserve rotation of Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin and Strus, before Okpala entered midway through the second period.
