Heat beats Nets to get back to .500: Takeaways and details. And Butler speaks to reporters

Five takeaways from the Heat’s 106-97 win against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Saturday evening:

▪ The Heat allowed a lousy Nets team to stick around before taking control in the third quarter.

The Heat, missing Jimmy Butler for the second game of his two-game suspension, committed 22 turnovers (leading to 29 Nets points) but mustered enough offense and defensive stops to dispatch a faceless Nets team that played without injured leading scorer Cam Johnson.

“Their pressure sped us up, had some careless turnovers,” Erik Spoelstra said. “We were inefficient in terms of taking care of the ball, better in the fourth quarter. We were consistent with our defensive effort all the way through.”

Miami opened up a 51-40 lead late in the second quarter before the Nets stormed back to close to within 53-49 at the break and tie the game midway through the third.

But the Heat then unleashed a 21-7 spurt that began with a Duncan Robinson three and featured two threes and a driving layup from Tyler Herro, a three-pointer and two free throws from Nikola Jovic, a circus layup by Terry Rozier and two free throws by Bam Adebayo.

By the time the Nets could gather themselves, they were down 82-68 after three.

Two baskets by Adebayo (one on a goaltending) and a layup by Robinson pushed the margin to 18 early in the fourth. Brooklyn closed to within 104-97 with 27 seconds remaining but drew no closer.

Herro led the Heat in scoring for the 25th time in 44 games, closing with 25 points.

Robinson chipped in 15 points, making 3 of 9 threes and grabbed seven rebounds.

Jovic provided a big boost off the bench, with 17 points (including three for four on three-pointers), to go along with six rebounds and four assists.

Adebayo shook off a 2 for 8 start and closed with 17 points (6 for 13 shooting) and 16 rebounds.

Rozier shook off a 3 for 9 start with a driving layup, a late three-pointer, a put back layup and two free throws. Those nine late points gave him 16 for the night.

And Jaime Jaquez Jr. was helpful, contributing nine points, five rebounds and three assists.

Miami survived Kel’el Ware’s worst offensive game since his role expanded significantly a week ago.

Everything seemed out of rhythm for the Heat rookie center, who missed eight of his first 10 shots before hitting a corner three midway through the fourth. Even three alley-oop passes - plays that Ware almost always converts - went awry, though at least one wasn’t his fault. Ware inadvertently hit only the rim on one of those lobs from Herro.

Ware closed with seven points (3 for 11 shooting) and six rebounds.

Nevertheless, Miami moved back to .500, at 22-22, split the two-game road trip and avoided what would have been a third loss in two weeks to a lottery-bound team, after previous setbacks at home to Utah and Portland.

The game was delayed for nearly 50 minutes because of Vince Carter’s jersey retirement ceremony, which stretched well beyond the expected 24 minutes and the traditional 15-minute halftime. NBA legend Julius Erving introduced Carter.

And if that delay wasn’t long enough, the Nets then created another three-minute pause when they challenged a call two seconds into the third quarter. The Nets lost the challenge.

“I thought it was an overall great effort from both sides,” Herro said. “The way we responded and bounced back, we held the line on defense. First unit, just trying to come out and set the tone in both quarters, beginning of each half. Second unit coming in and picking up where we left off and trying to keep that pressure on them the full 48 minutes.”

▪ Herro continued to make a case for an All-Star game invitation.

Among guards competing for an All Star bid, only Darius Garland has shot a higher percentage, both from the field and on threes, than Herro.

On Saturday, Herro shot 8 for 14 and 3 for 6 on threes, scoring 14 of his 25 in the first half. He also had eight assists.

Head coaches determine the All Star reserves, who will be announced on Thursday.

Asked his philosophy about lobbying for players for an All Star bid, Spoelstra said: “That’s just not my style, but I do think Tyler should be an All Star. His play speaks for itself. It’s been that way. I’m hopeful the coaches vote him in. That’s the ultimate respect.

“Opposing teams have to game plan against him. You have to spend a good deal of time in shootarounds and film sessions developing some kind of specific plan for him. In January, he’s been the most trapped player on pick and rolls. That’s a sign of great respect. His off ball movement, all of those things have really improved. I think it will happen. I do. His play has been that consistent.”

▪ The Heat’s defense ended its worst stretch of the season.

Miami had allowed at least 107 points in six consecutive games – its longest stretch of the season - and yielded at least 116 points in four of those games.

But on Saturday, the Heat was far more stout, albeit against a 14-32 Nets team lacking in firepower, even more so without Cam Johnson, who’s averaging 19.4 points per game. Miami is now 12-0 when it holds opponents below 100 points.

The Nets - who started such luminaries as Jalen Wilson and Keon Johnson - shot just 37.5 percent from the field and 35 percent (14 for 40) on threes.

Ware had three steals, and Herro and Jovic had two apiece. Ware and Jovic each had two blocks.

Adebayo said the Heat had a team meeting on Friday. The need to defend better was a key talking point.

“We’ve just got to hang our hats on that,” Rozier said. “We talked about it [Friday]. Next-play mentality no matter if the shot’s falling or not. Sometimes we get caught up hanging our heads and it affects the next two or three plays, and the next thing you know, we’re in the hole.

“So we’re just having that next-play mentality no matter if the basket is going in or not. Get back and play defense and get stops. I think we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”

▪ Spoelstra made another lineup change in Butler’s absence.

After opening with Pelle Larsson in Butler’s spot in Thursday’s loss at Milwaukee, Spoelstra on Saturday turned back to Haywood Highsmith, who logged 20 scoreless minutes.

Larsson played five first half minutes and didn’t appear after halftime.

Larsson didn’t take a shot and Highsmith closed 0 for 3.

But Highsmith made an imprint with his usual pesky defense, including a steal and a block.

“It really was possibly overthinking things in the Milwaukee game,” Spoelstra said of the move back to Highsmith with the starting group. “H has given us good minutes in that role. His defense, his activity, even with the fouls is what we needed.”

▪ And now the attention turns back, again, to Butler.

The Heat forward’s suspension ended after Saturday’s game, and the expectation is that he will rejoin the team for Monday’s home game against Orlando.

In brief comments to the audience at the Reserve Club Miami padel tournament on Saturday, Butler referred to Miami as a city that “I care so dearly and so much about.”

He told reporters “there’s no breaking news — I know that you’re all hoping for that. We’re just out here to have some fun, put on a show.”

Asked by reporters if he expects this to be his final weekend in Miami, Butler said: “I don’t know. But it’s going to be a fun weekend.”

Regarding the padel event and giving back to Miami, Butler said: “The absolute most. I love this city with everything that I have. I’m so glad that I get to be around so many incredible people, friends and family that are here. This city deserves everything.”

Is there anything he wants to say about being suspended again?

“Not really. I’m just glad that I get to be with my people. I’m glad that I get to be around a lot of people for Miami.”

Butler was serving as the event’s captain for a third consecutive year.

The Heat continues attempts to trade him but is patiently waiting for the best possible offer, which could stretch closer to the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.