The Latest Breaking News from Erik Spoelstra

MIAMI — No one in the NBA plays more close games than the Miami Heat and no one other than the Heat plays more close games than the Utah Jazz, so of course their showdown Monday in Miami came down to the final possessions.

Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler reacted badly to a post-game question after he scored 38 points in the Miami Heat's losing effort against the Orlando Magic on Saturday night

MIAMI — In the quiet of the losing locker room, the quiet of a season in trouble, the newest member of the Miami Heat sounded as perplexed as those who have seen it all. Kevin Love said, sure, they started strong Wednesday with 38 first-quarter points against Philadelphia.

MIAMI — Five takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 119-96 blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (40-21) on Wednesday night at Miami-Dade Arena to open a critical season-long six-game homestand, as the Heat fights to avoid the play-in tournament. The Heat (33-30) continues the homestand with another important game Friday against…

MIAMI — There is something particularly honorable about a professional sports team overachieving. It is a way of telling fans that no matter what appears to be missing, there is a willingness to go above and beyond.

For four months, the Miami Heat have measured themselves against just about everything the NBA has had to throw at them.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said when the team sat out the NBA trading deadline, other than to offload Dewayne Dedmon’s contract, it was not with any knowledge of the impending signing of Kevin Love.

Bam Adebayo recognized something had to change, that he needed something liberating, something to get his offensive potential closer to the bar he had so firmly established on the defensive end over his first five seasons.

NEW YORK — Step 1 for the new-look Nets? Start speaking the same language.