MIAMI — Two nights after producing something as unpalatable as curdled eggnog in a loss to the league-worst Detroit Pistons, the Miami Heat returned Tuesday night to FTX Arena by tickling tinseled twine to a result far more festive.
Even with a large portion of their core inactive, there was more than enough 3-point holiday cheer to push past the Indiana Pacers, 125-96.
With Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris and Victor Oladipo looking on from the bench in street clothes and with Caleb Martin still away from the team, the Heat dialed up the long ball to the tune of a third consecutive home victory.
Closing 22 of 49 from beyond the arc, tying the franchise record for 3-point conversions, the Heat got 28 points from Duncan Robinson, 26 from Tyler Herro, 18 from Max Strus and 13 rebounds from Omer Yurtseven.
“People just feel the energy of the ball,” Robinson said of the 3-point success. “For a lot of us, it’s just easy to let it fly.”
There also could have been a triple-double from Kyle Lowry, but the lopsidedness of the rout had him calling it a night with 10:01 to play as the Heat lead pushed to 30, his line closing at 12 assists, 11 rebounds and eight points.
“It’s just a next-man-up mentality,” Robinson said of the Heat pushing through while shorthanded.
Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:
1. A 3-for-all: The Heat’s first 15 points all came on 3-pointers, one apiece by Gabe Vincent, Strus and Dewayne Dedmon, and two from Robinson. The Heat’s first seven shots were 3s.
The Heat closed the opening period 7 of 12 from beyond the arc, with five players with at least one.
Midway through the second period the Heat had 11 3-pointers at a stage the Pacers had 11 total baskets.
And they just kept going from there, as has been the trend amid the continued absences of leading men.
2. The conductor: Orchestrating it all was Lowry, who, with his seventh assist moved past Jerry West for 32nd on the NBA all-time list.
As he has in several recent games, Lowry prioritized getting others going before turning to his offense, at just 2 of 5 from the field in the first half and the only starter without a 3-point conversion.
3. Statement return: Herro announced his return with a thunderous driving dunk early in the second period, following up with a pair of pull-up 3-pointers, the first of two in transition.
Herro had missed the previous three games with a quadriceps bruise, cleared about 90 minutes before tipoff.
His performance came with his parents in the stands.
4. Altered reality: With Tucker missing his first game of the season, Strus was given his first career NBA start, with his previous 65 appearances having come in reserve.
The options for coach Erik Spoelstra essentially came down to going for a more traditional type of power forward in KZ Okpala or with Strus, while opening in a zone defense.
The opening lineup was rounded out by Lowry, Robinson, Dedmon and Vincent.
Bypassed for the start, Okpala then replaced Strus 4:18 into the game, after Strus was called for a second foul.
5. The better half?: An argument could have been made that the Heat’s best lineup was the one watching in colorful street clothes from the bench.
That group featured Butler (tailbone), Adebayo (thumb), Morris (neck), Oladipo (knee) and Tucker (leg).
Away from the team due to protocols was Martin, with newcomer Zylan Cheatham not signed in time for tipoff.
Butler could be back as soon as Thursday night’s game against the visiting Pistons.
