The Heat struggled to score early on going scoreless in the first two minutes. Trevor Ariza stepped up for Portland scoring their first eight points. Duncan Robinson would end Miami’s drought with two threes, but Jimmy’s absence was felt early on. For Portland, CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony both punished the Heat and frequently enough for Spo to go the reserves early.
Duncan really was the only Heat player doing anything on offense (he had 12 of Miami’s first 14). Luckily, Bam would get involved around the 6:30 mark.