An evaluation of Wednesday evening’s Miami Warmth-Orlando Magic

ORLANDO — Observations and different notes of curiosity from Wednesday evening’s 125-121 loss to the Orlando Magic:

– The earlier math, the one we principally noticed within the preseason, seems to be again.

– Even after a statistically dominant preseason by Kel’el Ware.

– Even after coach Erik Spoelstra confused how keen a pupil Ware has been.

– In Wednesday evening’s first half, both Bam Adebayo or Ware.

– However neither collectively, with Adebayo enjoying 16 minutes over the primary two quarters, Ware the opposite eight.

– And so it went by means of the Warmth’s high-energy opener.

– Taking part in out the identical method within the second half.

– With Ware not getting into for the primary time within the second half till 2:16 remained within the third quarter.

– Then exiting with 8:02 to play.

– So 14 minutes, seven factors, 4 rebounds.

– Watching when Orlando was arising with so many late offensive rebounds.

– Is that this the easiest way to develop your 2024 first-round choose?

– With Ware as a fill-in part?

– Sure, one recreation, to not overstate.

– But when this season is about improvement (it’s), and if Adebayo is taken into account a Warmth main man (he’s), then higher collectively relating to Ware and Adebayo?

– And so, after the 2 completed final season collectively, this time solely staggered minutes.

– Even with Ware accessible, the Warmth went with a gap lineup of Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell.

– Ware had been listed as questionable earlier with an ankle sprain.

– The opening-night begin for Adebayo was his seventh with the Warmth, tying him with Udonis Haslem for second on the franchise’s all-time listing behind solely the 12 season-opening begins of Dwyane Wade.

– Adebayo opened defensively on Paolo Banchero.

– Powell’s first Warmth try was a profitable 3-pointer to open the scoring.

– Powell’s second try resulted in a three-shot foul on the Magic, leaving him with six factors on one FGA.

– Adebayo’s first try of the season was a profitable 3-pointer.

– The Warmth have been with out Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis.

– The timetable supplied by the Warmth within the wake of Herro’s ankle surgical procedure final week was of a return in mid-to-late November.

– Jakucionis is coping with a groin pressure suffered through the Warmth’s earlier go to to Orlando within the preseason.

– “He’s doing nicely,” Spoelstra mentioned of the rookie guard. “I do know he’s doing an increasing number of every day. However I don’t have a selected timeline.”

– Along with Herro and Jakucionis being inactive for Warmth, so was two-way participant Jahmir Younger.

– Vlad Goldin and Myron Gardner, the Warmth’s different two-way gamers, have been lively.

– Primarily based on their present roster composition with 14 on commonplace contacts, the Warmth have 90 complete mixed video games that two-way gamers will be lively. That quantity is now right down to 88, with Goldin and Gardner lively on Wednesday evening.

– With Wiggins referred to as for his second foul 3:32 into the sport, Jaime Jaquez Jr. entered because the Warmth’s first substitute.

– Wiggins didn’t have a statistic aside from his two fouls in his opening stint.

– Ware then entered together with Simone Fontecchio and Dru Smith within the Warmth’s second substitution, with 3:44 left within the opening interval.

– With Adebayo, Jovic and Mitchell sitting.

– Pelle Larsson then made it 10 deep at the beginning of the second interval.

– That had solely Terry Rozier and Keshad Johnson from the usual roster out of the rotation combine.

– Moving into, Spoelstra mentioned the emotion of the evening was actual.

– “We’ve been chomping on the bit for some time,” Spoelstra mentioned. “I believe there’s a wholesome enthusiasm. I believe that’s nice. All people ought to have that feeling on opening evening.”