Miami—NBA schedule balance.

After a three-game journey that began with the Boston Celtics, ended with the Milwaukee Bucks, and included the Minnesota Timberwolves on the second night of a back-to-back set, the Miami Heat appeared to have a break on Wednesday.

After a 1-3 start, the Brooklyn Nets were missing Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Dennis Smith for a three-game homestand.

Unfortunately, Erik Spoelstra’s team’s season has started poorly.

The Heat lost 109-105 at Kaseya Center after blowing a 16-point lead against an opponent missing its core.

Even though Tyler Herro scored 30 points, Bam Adebayo scored 21 and had 14 rebounds, and Jimmy Butler scored 20, it was a disappointing finish.

This was hardly the result a club with 12 of its first 17 on the road needed to start a three-game homestand.

The Heat only won on opening night, surviving a late Detroit Pistons comeback. Since then? Four losses.

Miami’s next game is Friday’s NBA In-Season Tournament opener against the visiting Washingtоn Wizards, which counts toward the regular season.

Wednesday night’s game brought five degrees of heat:

1. Final time:

The Heat led 32-29 after one session and 56-46 at halftime after leading 16 in the second. The Heat regained a 15-point lead in the third quarter before falling down 83-75 in the fourth.

The Nets took their highest lead to that point at 89-86 with 8:38 to play on a Trendon Watford 3-pointer, then 97-90 with 5:37 to play.

A Butler layup made it 98-97 after an Adebayo 3-point play pulled the Heat within 98-95.

Despite two Herro 3-pointers, the Heat fell to the Nets 109-105 in the fourth quarter.

2. Love out, Jaquez in:

With Kevin Love out for the second time in three games with a shoulder contusion and Claxton out, Spoelstra started Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Jaquez’s second start of the season instead of Nikola Jovic’s height was Spoelstra’s latest expression of trust in UCLA’s mature 2023 first-round pick.

Jaquez shot 1 of 9, including 0 for 6 on 3-pointers.

Bam Adebayo (hip) and Butler (knee) started for the Heat, along with Kyle Lowry and Herro, despite being on the ιnjury report earlier in the day.

Adebayo missed Monday’s Bucks away loss.

The Heat inactivated Jamal Cain, Cole Swider, and R.J. Hampton on two-way contracts despite being without Love and Caleb Martin due to Josh Richardon and Haywood Highsmith’s return.

Two-way players can only play 90 games for teams with 14 normal contract players, one below the limit. Wednesday night prevented the Heat from lowering that total.

The Heat had 12 players, three below the limit, after Love and Martin were inactive.

4. Highsmith effect:

As the Heat’s second reserve, Highsmith had an early impact on both ends.

Butler assisted on a 3-pointer and then blocked Dorian Finney-Smith in a tҺrilling chase down.

With 8:54 left in the second period, Spoelstra disputed the foul since the block was so clean. Coaches can now challenge twice if the first successful.

Nets’ first challenge to prevent Ben Simmons’ third foul at the end of the first quarter failed, removing their second chance.

Highsmith went 3 of 3 on 3-pointers with a pair in the second half while playing with a minute limit.

He finished 21:49 with nine points and four rebounds.

5. Adebayo аttаck:

Adebayo maximized his edge against the Nets at every opportunity, save for turnovers.

Last, Adebayo scored his 150th career double-double. The only players with more are Rony Seikaly (221), Alonzo Mourning (205) and Hassan Whiteside (185).

He had three assists, two steals, two blocks, and four of the Heat’s 18 turnovers while shooting 8 of 12 from the floor, 5 of 5 from the line.