The Miami Heat started strong against the Milwaukee Bucks but quickly lost momentum, ultimately falling short despite Tyler Herro’s impressive 40-point performance. This loss marks their fifth defeat in the last six games, with their only win coming against a struggling Toronto Raptors team. Now sitting at 26-29 and eighth in the Eastern Conference, they appear to be a play-in team at best.
Beyond the loss, the Heat suffered another setback as Nikola Jovic sustained an injury in the first half and did not return. Reports from CBS Sports confirmed that X-rays revealed a fracture in the second metacarpal of his right hand, likely sidelining him for an extended period. Jovic has been a key contributor this season, averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over 46 games. His absence will be a significant blow, but it may create opportunities for Haywood Highsmith and Kyle Anderson to step into the rotation.
Right now, the Heat’s direction is uncertain. While Herro and Bam Adebayo have performed well, and Andrew Wiggins has shown promise since joining the team in the Jimmy Butler trade, the overall roster does not look like a legitimate contender. As a result, don’t be surprised if Miami pursues a superstar in the offseason—though their recent track record in landing one has been far from successful.
10 Stats That Define Heat Rookie Kel’el Ware’s First 15 Games as a Starter
With Miami Heat rookie Kel’el Ware now 15 games into his starting role, there’s enough data to analyze his performance. Here are 10 key stats that help explain his impact so far.
Defensive Performance
- Opponents are shooting 2.5% better than their usual percentage within six feet of the rim when Ware is the closest defender, and 0.5% better within 10 feet, per NBA.com.
- Since Ware entered the starting lineup, those numbers have worsened, with opponents shooting 4.4% better within six feet and 2.1% better within 10 feet when he’s defending.
- However, Miami’s two-big lineup with Ware and Bam Adebayo has been effective, posting a defensive rating of 106.1—good enough for second in the NBA, behind only Oklahoma City.
- The Heat’s defense struggles when Adebayo is off the floor, with a defensive rating of 117.9 when Ware plays without him, which would rank 27th in the league.
- Adebayo also benefits from Ware’s presence, as the team’s defensive rating dips to 112.4 (12th in the NBA) when Adebayo plays without Ware.
Offensive Impact
- Offensively, Miami averages just 110.1 points per 100 possessions with Ware and Adebayo on the floor together, slightly below their season average of 112.1.
- Ware ranks in the 71st percentile as a pick-and-roll finisher, averaging 1.20 points per possession, but he only gets 1.8 such attempts per game.
- He converts 70.3% of his shots on cuts (1.6 per game), which are similar to pick-and-roll situations.
- Ware’s offensive rebounding needs improvement—he attempts just one putback per game and converts at a 45% rate, ranking in the 20th percentile.
- Among 7-footers, Ware is 14th in three-point attempts per game, shooting 32.9% on 1.9 attempts—comparable to Victor Wembanyama, Lauri Markkanen, Kristaps Porzingis, and others.
While Ware has shown promise, particularly in the pick-and-roll, there’s still room for growth—especially on defense and the offensive glass.
