The return of small forward Norman Powell to the starting lineup helped the Miami Heat end their five-game losing streak and move into sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
A second consecutive road game against the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers is next for the Heat on Friday night.
First-time All-Star Powell had curiously come off the bench in three of his previous four contests, but celebrated being back in the first five with a team-high 19 points in a 120-103 victory at Cleveland on Wednesday.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said the time was right to make the lineup of center Bam Adebayo, forwards Powell and Andrew Wiggins, and guards Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell permanent.
“We stayed together, figured it out and were able to get our offense back clicking,” Powell said. “… We have it in us to hold the line, and not get sideways and let go of the rope. I thought we did a great job of trusting one another.”
Herro added 18 points for Miami (39-34), while big men Adebayo and Kel’el Ware dominated Cavaliers counterparts Evan Mobley and Thomas Bryant. Adebayo posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and Ware had 13 points, 11 defensive rebounds and four assists off the bench.
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Mobley was limited to eight points and Bryant had just four.
“We just need to defend. We know we can score,” said Adebayo, who was 6-of-19 from the field, including 1-of-9 on 3-point attempts. “We’ve put up the most 140-point games. We know we can score. It’s about the other side of the ball.”
Cleveland (45-28) had won four straight, but was lustily booed throughout a first half which they never led and trailed by as many as 21.
Miami squandered a 57-36 lead before Pelle Larsson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. saved it in the final nine minutes, when the Heat outscored their hosts 32-13. Larsson had nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and Jaquez scored seven of his 14.
Cleveland had gone ahead for the first time at 86-85 on Keon Ellis’ 3-pointer 35 seconds into the fourth, then led 90-88 on Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s two free throws before running out of gas. The Cavaliers had played Tuesday, beating the visiting Orlando Magic 136-131.
“I’m pleased with the process. I thought we competed,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I liked our spirit. I liked our compete. … That’s my job as a coach, not necessarily look at the score but see if we’re carrying through on the plan.”
Donovan Mitchell, who scored 28 points before fouling out for the first time as a professional, also saw some positives in the defeat.
“We let it slip, but we see them again on Friday,” he said. “You’ve got to give (Miami) credit, they made some shots. … I feel like we know we can (rally from 21 down), play the way we did in the second half.”
James Harden had 18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers in a shaky outing.
The Heat lead the season series 2-1, having split a pair in South Florida during a three-day span in November.
–Field Level Media
