RECAP: Shorthanded Heat fall to Suns

The Miami Heat got off to a hot start. They shot better than 65% from the field after the first quarter and had a 29-28 lead. Then they went cold, really cold and begin a slow downward spiral to another Heat loss.

Phoenix won the game 99-90.

Miami was already way shorthanded, with only 8 players available to play — and they all did. The Heat were without Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow, Josh McRoberts, Dion Waiters, Tyler Johnson, James Johnson and of course Chris Bosh.

That left a lineup pretty much focused around Goran Dragic against his former team. And in the first half, that’s exactly what happened. Dragic scored a season-high 22 points in the first half. He was on a mission.

But once the second half rolled around, that all disappeared. The Heat were outscored 27-14 in the third quarter which saw them fall behind by double digits once again. A balanced 10-man rotation for the Suns continued to do work on this Heat team. Dragic had only 2 points in the second half for the Heat which saw their offense collapse. The Heat finished the game shooting 39%

Willie Reed was a small bright spot, showing he can put up numbers like Hassan Whiteside as he scored 22 points with 18 rebounds.

Miami didn’t give up, they never do. They continued to play hard. But more often than not, it seems as though the talent and the bounces are not in their favor this season.

Devin Booker really bothered the Heat leading the Suns in scoring (27 points). And Tyson Chandler hurt Miami on the glass (20 rebounds), dominating and getting plenty of tap outs. But the real deal in this was another poor offensive second half for the Heat. That’s what happened Sunday against Detroit, and it happened here again as well. Miami scored only 38 points in the second half.

The Heat fall to 10-26 on the season. They’ll play the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.